Page 23 of No Greater Oblivion

“I love you,” I say. “Thank you. Thank you for coming back for me.”

He doesn’t say anything in reply. Only embraces me in silence.

7

THE DESCENT INTO MADNESS

Alejandro

The Past

Drip.

The sink in the bathroom is leaking.

Drip

Drip

Drip

The dripping falls in tandem with the clock above the hospital bed.

Tick

Tick

Tick

Drip

Drip

Drip

Dahlia sleeps soundly and I track the steady rise and fall of her breathing, listening to the machines as they track her heartrate. Now all the sounds are mixing together in my head.

Drip. Tick. Beep.

Drip. Tick. Beep.

Drip. Tick. Beep⁠—

A hand comes down on my shoulder, touching me gently.

“Do you want to get some sleep?” Diego whispers. “I’ll watch⁠—”

My head makes a sharp turn; only by an inch or so but the movement is enough to silence him. He pulls his hand away and I return to watching. Listening.

Drip. Tick. Beep.

Drip. Tick. Beep.

“Alejandro,” my brother tells me. “You haven’t moved from this chair in five hours.”

“She’s sleeping.”

“Something you should be doing.”