AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I saw my mom.”
His hand stills on my cheek, but then he moves again. His knuckles, gentle on my skin. “Where?”
My throat goes tight. I brace for pain, but none comes. “When I was at home. I felt so bad. I think it was a dream. But it felt real.”
He hums noncommittally. Another peal of laughter rolls through the walls. Will has nice walls. Not much sound carries through, but people being happy? I can hear that. He must be right about the twins. They’re okay. That warm feeling has gone all through my brain. It’s like someone melted a hundred tropical Jolly Ranchers, and now my thoughts are floating in the syrup.
“You…” What was I going to say? Takes a minute. “You have a brother.”
Will huffs. “You’re high, Bristol.”
I make a face, which probably doesn’t have as much effect as it would if I had my eyes open. “You’re always saying that.”
“What, your name?”
“So…” The word slips away. I have to flip through lots of thoughts to find it. “Professional.”
“I thought you liked professionalism.”
“Hate it.” This is the truth. Ihatebeing professional. I hate all companies. If companies didn’t exist, then I could just be with Will.
Except…no. He doesn’t think he’s a monster because he works at a company. That’s…that’s opposite. What is it called? Cause and effect. The company didn’t make the monster. It just made him a lot of money. And he wants money because he thinks he’s a monster. It’s something else. It has to do with something else.
“Sweetheart.” Fingertips at my hair, running through, brushing it away. “Go to sleep.”
I’m almost there.
“You’re the baby.” My own voice feels far, far away, almost like someone else is saying the words. “You have brothers, but they’re older.” I remember that picture. The casual closeness. Sinclair with his hand on Emerson’s chest.
“Mm-hmm.”
“Where’s your mom?”
He goes absolutely still. I can’t force my eyes open, but I can feel it. Will’s hardly breathing. If his palm wasn’t on my cheek, I’d think he wasn’t here at all.
I don’t have much time. I’m going to be asleep soon, whether I want to be or not, and Iwantto be. But I want answers. This seems important. I know it’s important.
“Everybody has a mom,” distant-me insists. “I know you have one, too.”
“Had.”
“She’s…” My dream comes back, vivid and clear, but only for a second, like a camera flash. The afterimage leaves traces in the dark. “Gone?”
“Dead,” Will says. “I never knew her. Go to sleep, Bristol.”
On the other side of Will’s apartment, Sinclair laughs. The echoes reach into the room. One more thing. There was one more thing I wanted to ask.
“Will you stay?”
Maybe he saysyes.Maybe not. But for a long time after, I know he’s there. I can feel the heat of his body. I can feel his heart beating.
16
WILL
Bristol falls asleep,her breathing soft, and Hughes Financial Services ceases to exist.
For twenty minutes, I let her sleep, holding her hand and running my thumb over her knuckles. There’s no evidence that she’s getting worse. In fact, she looks comfortable. Peaceful.
