AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His words reignite a familiar feeling, one I thought was buried in the past. Feigning a cough to mask the smile on the verge of breaking through, I respond with, “Keeping negative people out of my orbit and enjoying life is my secret, not sacrificing to the gods.”
Dirt chuckles. “Well, whatever you’re doing, it’s working.”
The elevator doors open, and he walks out. My bravado leaves me, and I’m frozen on the spot. Dirt turns around and raises an arm to prevent the doors from closing.
“How bad is he?” I whisper.
Part of me wants to know the truth, but a greater part is terrified I’ll lose my son forever.
“Tobias is strong.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit, Dirt. The one thing you and I did well, maybe too fucking well, was tell each other the truth.”
Dirt moves into the elevator and holds out a hand to me. I stare at it, shake my head, and step onto the ICU floor. His lips go together in a hard line, and he gestures toward a waiting room. Without talking, we make our way to it. There’s no one else here, and we sit opposite each other. Dirt leans forward, elbows on his knees. His hazel eyes show a depth of emotion I’ve never seen on him before.
“He took a bullet to the face. His left eye is gone.” Dirt licks his lips, and I feel my throat tightening with every word that leaves his lips. “I wish I could tell you he’s going to be okay, but Lore, we don’t know.”
A group of women walk into the waiting room. Most barely have enough clothes on to cover their asses.
One sits next to Dirt. “Thought you went outside for a smoke?”
“I did.”
“Where’s my coffee?”
Dirt glances at me and says, “Destiny, this is Lore Mercer, Tobias’ mother.”
A collective gasp sounds in the room as all eyes land on me. Destiny stands and awkwardly throws her arms around my body.
“It’s so good to meet you. I’m so sorry I didn’t recognize you. Tobias has your picture on his wall at his home.”
“You’re his girlfriend?” She looks down at her finger with an incredibly large rock on it. “Fiancée?”
“No, no, no, no,” Destiny quickly says as she flaps her hands around. “I used to work for Tobias.” She looks at the other women. “We all do. I mean, I did. I don’t anymore. He’s more like family to me. And I’m rambling.” Destiny takes a deep breath. “Have you gone in to see him?”
“She just got here, D,” replies Dirt.
“Where is he?”
“I’ll take you.” Dirt stands and holds out his hand.
This time, I put my hand in his and let him guide me away from the waiting area. Together, we pass through a pair of imposing double doors, and immediately before us stands a desk with a nurse engrossed in the contents of a patient chart. Dirt clears his throat to capture her attention, but I step forward, my trembling hands gently resting on the counter’s surface.
“My name is Lore Mercer. Tobias Dupont is my son,” I softly declare.
She puts down the chart, eyes filled with empathy as she offers a sympathetic nod. “I’ll see where the doctor is.”
“Can I see him?”
“It’s best if you wait to speak to the doctor.” Her response is gentle but cautious.
“Look, lady. I’m tired, and I’m scared. I just need to lay eyes on my son. I need to see him. Do you understand?” I urgently plea.
With a quick nod, she says, “Only you.” Her eyes flick to Dirt. “You wait here.”
Dirt opens his mouth to respond, but I reach out and place a hand on his chest, silencing him. “I’ll be fine.”
The nurse walks ahead of me down the sterile corridor. Fluorescent lights overhead cast a harsh, clinical glow on the linoleum floors. The rhythmic beep of monitors and the soft murmurs of medical staff in the background create an eerie backdrop to the weighty anticipation hanging in the air. My heart is pounding in my chest as we pass through a maze of rooms filled with patients in various states of critical care. Hushed whispers of hope and despair seem to linger in the hallway, and I feel even more helpless.
