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“No, I’m not leaving her,” I say in a rush, my voice cracking with emotion.
“I meant them,” she says, jerking her chin in the guy’s direction. “I don’t need an audience. And I’m pretty sure your sister would say the same.”
“O-okay,” I whisper, looking up at the three of them.
They’re all tense and on edge.
None of them move. I love them for it, for the way they’re protecting both me and Kristie. But Sienna is right.
“It’s okay. You can go,” I say, ignoring the way my chest tightens at the thought of being separated from them right now.
I need their strength and support to keep me together.
“We’ll be right outside the door. You need us, just shout.”
“They’ll both be fine,” Sienna says, giving them all a curt nod before turning back to Kristie.
By the time they close the door behind them, Sienna has a blood pressure monitor around Kristie’s arm and a stethoscope pressed to her chest.
The silence as she works is oppressive, but I refuse to speak and distract her. What she’s doing is too important.
I sit there on the edge of the bed and watch as she assesses my sister. Every bruise and cut she reveals makes me wince and another little part of me dies.
It was my job to protect her from the dark and ugly side of our lives. And just look at her.
She’s broken. Physically, and I’m sure mentally.
I want to believe that when she wakes up, she’ll be happy to see me. But the reality is that she’ll be anything but happy.
A pained sigh leaves my lips as the adrenaline from the evening begins to seep from me.
“She’ll be okay, Alana. These cuts and bruises will heal. With the right love and support, she’ll be able to leave the drugs behind and start over.”
Her words reassure me that Aubrey has already filled her in on the basics of the story. I’m grateful that I don’t have to explain anything.
“And what if she doesn’t want to?” I ask, voicing my biggest fear.
Resting her hands on her lap where she sits on the edge of the bed, Sienna turns to me.
“I don’t have the answer to that, unfortunately. Only time will tell.”
I nod, hating that it’s the best she can give me.
But I’m not stupid. And I’ve already used up enough false hope to get to this point.
I need to be realistic.
Kristie might not have wanted me to swoop in and rescue her.
She might not?—
A sob erupts at the thought of her turning her back on me and returning to the life she’s barely surviving.
Without saying a word, Sienna reaches over and squeezes my hand.
“I haven’t seen her in five years,” I blurt. “I miss her so much.”
She gives me a sad smile.
