Page 115 of The Quiet Witness

“The decision is yours, sir, she has no family to make it for her.”

Leaving me with the final choice. Not easy, considering she might as well be Kate’s twin. He had dug into the records, had asked Emilio to search with him, lest he made the wrong decision. But as similar as Kate and Isabel looked, there was no reason to believe they were tied by blood, only by coincidence.

Kate brought up in a foster family, Isabel who had been raised among her parents. Two entirely different pasts, merging into the sanctuary. Lucien had been convinced they were relatives at one point, but that just wasn’t true.

“There is no chance, none of recovery?”

“Not full recovery.”

Lucien’s head whipped up, if there was even a slight chance at—

“She might wake up someday, but there will be no recollection, she won’t recognize anyone, won’t be able to talk, eat or drink. Won’t be able to move on her own.”

Not a life worth living.

He could only hope the hospital was right this time around, else what he would do next would be… unforgivable. Lucien took in the mechanical sigh, saw her heartbeat pipe up on the screen, the tape securing her lips together.

And knew what he had to do.

“How would letting her… pass work?”

“It can be done at any moment, you just need to sign this form and Isabel.” The man actually looked at the girl who had nearly survived. “Can go home.”

Home.

Lucien’s head swiveled to the Dr, taking in the small, brass cross hanging between the lapels of his jacket. It would make one’s work easier, believing that one day they all went home, whether to heaven or hell.

Occasionally in the past he’d gotten jealous, when the pastor had come to inform his younger self that his mother was finally at peace. When all Lucien had wanted to do was sock him in the face for his unknowing words, his mother had never known peace in life, what would death change? But even in moments like these, belief like that could be envied.

“Get me the form.”

The man nodded, walking backwards away from Lucien and the girl before turning into the hallway, the sound of his clogs fading into the distance.

Lucien dropped himself in the chair with a heavy sigh, eyes locked tight to the heartbeat that would soon be silenced. He turned to face the reason for his being here, slowly reaching out to brush the stray hairs out of Isabel’s face, knuckles sliding past her cheeks.

“They say we find peace on the other side, if any of it is true. I hope you find it my girl, you deserve every bit of it.”

What was left of his heart clenched together.

“Kate will know what happened… soon. When she’s ready for it. I hope you can forgive me, knowing it will save her. And, I hope she will be able to as well. In some distant part of the future.”

Slapping clogs announced the Dr’s return, Lucien scooted backward against the chair. Taking the offered clipboard into his hand, his eyes scoured the white form.

I have been informed of the patient’s condition, prognosis, and the expected outcome of discontinuing such treatment.

What a fancy way of rephrasing death.

He read the next part. I hereby authorize the withdrawal of life-sustaining measures.

A pen clicked, the Dr held it out to him. Lucien put it against the paper, it scratched over the white form, signing Isabel’s passing.

And just like that I legally killed someone. With the swipe of a pen.

“I’m sorry for your loss, mister Evans.”

“I would like to be left alone.” Lucien’s eyes didn’t leave Isabel’s silent form, he’d wait for a sign until the very last second. The Dr bobbed his head in confirmation. Leaving killer and victim alone. He stayed by her side for hours, holding her hand, squeezing every so often.

Stayed that way long after the beeping into the room had faded into silence.