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"Lexi, I'm coming."I hadn't planned it, but as soon as I said it, I realized I needed to be with her.
"I don't think that's a good idea right now."
I swallowed hard.I couldn't push her.She had too much to worry about."I want to be there for you.I want to support you through this.You shouldn't be alone."
"I'm not alone."
Jealousy flared through me."Of course," I said."You have Andrew."
"Leo, don't.Please.Don't do this.Not now."
"I'm sorry.I shouldn't have said that."
My body ached with the need to touch her.To reach through the phone line and hold her close, and let her cry.
"I can't do this right now, Leo," she said and I could hear the pain in her voice.
"What are you saying?You can't do this now?Or ever?"
The silence on the line grew.For a moment, I was afraid she'd hung up."Lexi?"
"Leo, I ca—"
"Lexi."I rushed the words out."I love you.I..."My voice cracked."I love you," I repeated because it was all I could do.
"I just can't think about this right now.I need to focus on Uncle Ray.It's just not a good time.It's too much.Everything is...I'm sorry, Leo."
"Don't, Lexi...please," I said.
But it was too late.
She was gone.
Lexi
I walked down the corridor, stunned.I couldn't feel my feet, but they kept moving.The walls seemed to be closing in around me.
Had I really just hung up on Leo?I'd said I couldn't deal with it, but...could I deal without him?
The door to Uncle Ray's room was open, so I slipped inside.Andrew looked at me and started to rise but I shook my head and he settled back into the chair.I stood against the doorway and took a deep breath.
"The first thing they do is knock me out," Uncle Ray was saying to an enraptured Ben.
"They hit you?"Ben asked.
"No, they use these cool drugs to make me fall asleep."
"Won't you wake up?"
"No way.They make sure I'm really asleep.And then, when they're sure that I'm sleeping, they cut me open."
"Cool," Ben said."Where?"
"Right here."Uncle Ray drew a line with his finger down his chest."Then they take these big things, they look like nut crackers, and they split my—"
"Okay," I said."I think that's enough of a description for right now, Uncle Ray."
"Aw, come on, Mom."
