Page 60 of Rising Star

I blinked, trying to make sense of the scene.

“You here?” I asked. “I thought it was all a dream. What are you reading?”

He shrugged. “Something I picked up on my way here. Thought I could read to you. And you might like it. Change your mind and stuff.”

I said nothing for a while.

“Unless you want me to go,” he finally said.

Was the silence stretching between us as uncomfortable for him as it was for me?

“You can stay. Only if you get me tacos.”

“Tacos?”

“Yep. I want fun food. And chocolate chip cookies. If you can make it happen, you don’t have to leave just yet. Chocolate is—”

“Good for the soul,” he continued. “I know.” A large grin illuminated his face. And for an instant, my best friend was back. Gone was the tension in his demeanor. He jumped to his feet. “Mission accepted. Be right back.”

Once he exited the room, I bit my tongue as debilitating pain spread through my lower self. I clung to the mattress with all my strength, praying it would recede quickly.

“How am I supposed to live like this?” I asked through my tears to everyone and no one. “It doesn’t get better. It seems to worsen every day. Or I’m getting softer and losing the fight.”

Once pain released me from its claws, I grabbed the empty glass of water I kept on the nightstand and hurled it at the wall with all my might. I fixed my gaze on the shattered glass on the wooden floor as it reminded me of my body. And I wondered if I would, one day, feel whole again, or just like the slivers of glass, I’d forever be broken, pieces of me gone for eternity.

Jacob came back. I could hear his footsteps approaching my door. I straightened my posture after erasing all traces of sadness from my face with a corner of the blanket. Seeing the smile hugging his lips, I could tell Jeremiah didn’t expose my earlier meltdown to the guy who used to be my best friend.

He insisted that we eat in the kitchen, so after helping me sit in the wheelchair I kept by my bed, Jacob and I settled ourselves in front of a Mexican buffet. And for the first time in weeks, my mouth watered at the sight of food.

For the next two weeks, Jacob came to visit me every day after work. Slowly, we were learning to be in each other’s lives again. I doubted we’d be best friends in the long run, but for the time being, I enjoyed the time spent together. As if it could heal the wound we never got a chance to fix.

Tonight, we were in the den, admiring the fireplace as I sat in my favorite chair, a blanket tight around my legs while Jacob read me chapters of the novel we began three days ago. I came to enjoy our daily reading sessions. A simple pleasure I had not enough energy to indulge in by myself.

A loud yawn exited my mouth, and Jacob helped me to my bed. Knowing my schedule by heart, he handed me two painkiller pills and a glass of water kept on the bedside table.

“Do you need anything else before I go?”

“No. All good.”

He perused my bedroom, searching for his next words.

“Maddie, I gotta tell you something. We’ve always been honest with each other. The truth is...I’m still not over you. And I don’t know if I’ll ever be,” he whispered. “The time we’ve been spending together, it means something more to me.”

“I know. But you need to move on,” I whispered back.

Jacob bowed his head, his eyes drifting to my face soon after. “Do you regret it? Choosing him?”

“No,” I said, tremolos in my voice as anguish painted his face.

“I was hoping you’d say yes.” He offered me a sad smile.

“You’ve been coming here every day. Perhaps we should take a break. Not that I won’t miss you, but I don’t want you to expect something from me that won’t happen. The last thing I desire is to break your heart all over again. I can’t be anything else but your friend.”

“You’ll get back on your feet. I know you’ll thrive. I’m just sad I won’t be by your side when it happens.” His hand squeezed mine.

“Again, I’m sorry. For everything,” I murmured.

Jacob let go of me. “Our moments together are always too short. We always run out of time.” Hurt filled his words.