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"Baby girl," I whisper, my voice broken, "we are here now. Please stay with me." I dip my own forehead to rest on her dainty hand.
The sound of my strong friend breaking apart over the woman we love has my own sobs demanding their way out of my chest. I hold onto her as hard as I dare while I beg. I don't beg a higher power...no. I beg this powerful force lying in front of me to keep her own damn heart beating.
This woman is everything we believe her to be. A goddess, an angel, a fighter, and a phoenix. If anyone can rise from the ashes one more time, it's Evelyn Faye Miller. So no, I don't pray to something to keep her alive. I ask my best friend, who has shown time and time again just how strong she really is. My hope lies with the woman lying in this hospital bed and nothing else.
Come back to me.
Chapter 17
Amiri
Walking out of Eve's hospital room, a shuddering breath leaves my lungs. I never saw her in the hospital the first time, so I had no idea just how fucking horrible it would be to see her lying there like that.
Glancing to my right, I notice everything that is wrong with Ryan. He won't eat; I don't know the last time he drank water. He barely blinks, his skin is white as a sheet, and his body has a slight tremble to it.
It reminds me of when Nolan's emotions strangle the life out of him, too. It's like the two of them swapped places... the give and take of their relationship is something to admire in this twisted situation.
It's like Ryan has completely shut down. I thought maybe when he saw Eve, he would snap back into any kind of emotion. Besides a small stumble when he walked in, he was still completely blank. The worst part was how dead his eyes looked while tears ran down his cheeks. His gaze never left her for the little bit we were allowed to visit.
My stomach twists, the image of Eve lying on the ledge and now her body hooked up to all those machines...it's too much. Just as a sob works its way up my throat, we enter the waiting room to find Mia and Dan there. I am losing control of my emotions because of who stands next to them; my mom and dad are here, too.
The gates of my tears and heart-wrenching pain that I've had on lockdown burst open. Now, as I throw myself into Mom's arms with a cry so loud it echoes around the room, I am stripped bare.
The ache in my chest intensifies; I'm fucking suffocating. Each tear that stains my mom's shirt is an apology and a promise to Eve.
I will never let anything hurt you ever again. I'm sorry we took so long. Wake up, and I will do anything to make you happy. Just wake up!
Subconsciously, I know she's only been here since this afternoon, and visiting hours just ended, but it feels like her eyes have been closed for years.
"Oh, honey," Mom murmurs into my chest. "It's okay; let it out; I got you." And I do. I don't know how long I stand there, crushing my mom to my chest, but I let everything out—my fears, my guilt, the pain...all the damn pain.
Once I can take in a full breath, I pull away, noticing the tears on her own face, too. I wipe them away, my thumbs large on her chocolate cheeks.
"How is she?" Mom scans my face, gripping my forearms.
"Not good, Mom. They-" My voice catches, "they don't know i-if she will wake up."
Her gasp brings fresh tears to my eyes; the reality of saying it out loud makes me want to keel over and never come back up again.
"Hey, son." My dad's rich voice breaks through the emotional torment momentarily.
"Dad," I breathe and latch onto his taller form. The feeling of being smaller than him is welcome...I need someone to take care of me now.
"Don't give up on her, do you hear me?" His murmur in my ear and firm arms around me have me relaxing and trusting in his guidance and support.
"Never." It's a vow I send to Eve as well, and I will never give up on you, Eve.
"Where am I?"
Smiling, I turn to Evie, who just walked down the stairs. "Good morning, Angel." Just as I step forward to give her a kiss, she takes a stumbling one away. "You okay?" I furrow my brows. Maybe she had a nightmare, although this development would be new.
"Wh-who are you? Where am I?" She's way too fucking pale, and what the hell is she talking about?
"You're funny, baby. Do that joke with Ryan when he walks in. Come eat." I move to grab her hand, but she quickly snatches it away and backs toward the entryway. "Eve?"
Her frantic eyes dart around me and then behind her. "Who's Eve?" The sinking feeling in my gut gets worse when I see the unshed tears glistening in her eyes. My anxiety makes me move closer to her again, thinking that this weird feeling will go away if I can just get my hands on her.
"Good morning, sleepyhead!"
