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Myeyes met his steady gaze.
“Weare cut from the same cloth, remember?Ifmy sole connection to this earth were also gone,” he was talking aboutMom, “I’dconsider the same.Whydo you thinkIbought matching caskets with your mother?Irefuse to live a moment longer if she died before me.”
Ihuffed. “Yetyou expect me to keep on living.”
Zanetook a deep breath.Thehypocrisy wasn’t lost on him. “Itdoesn’t matter whatIexpect.You’vegot to keep living because you’re better than me.Ambaniraised you with all his damn moral high grounds.Doyou think he would’ve wanted this for you?Ifyour mother did the right thing by choosing to raise you with him, don’t let her sacrifices go to waste.Bebetter than this.”Hetossed the scalpel onto the bed between us.
Ieyed the sharp object meant to be my relief from this sweetHell.
Iwould do anything forMom, butDamonwas waiting.Icouldn’t let him go through purgatory alone. “Likeyou said, we are cut from the same cloth.”
Zanelet out an infuriated rumble. “Thenthere is something else you should know.Thedoctors recommended against telling you because of your mental state.Theythought it might worsen things, but this might finally snap you out of it.”
Athick cloak of ominous premonition suffocated the room.Iknew it was coming before he said it.
“You’repregnant.”
Myhand immediately flew to my stomach.
Ithad been four days since my pregnancy test, but we had a lot of sex three days ago.Itdidn’t come as a surprise, only the most incredible newsIhad ever heard.Suddenly, all wasn’t lost.
Ihad a new lease on life.
“Ifyou loved him so much, is this how you want to end his legacy?Becauseif you do, then here.”Zanegrabbed the scalpel and placed it in my hand. “Gotfor it.”
“DoIget a say in this?”Adeep voice interrupted us from the door.
* * *
Damon
Mygirl caught me staring at her from the doorway before screaming, “Damon!” and jumping off the hospital bed.
Sheforgot about theIVlines hooked up to her, holding her back.Poppytore through them at manic speed, butIhad already taken the five steps to reach her and scooped her into my arms.Bloodfrom my right hand, whereDevshot me, dripped ontoPoppy’sblack hospital gown.IbetPiyaspecial ordered them to spruce up the room forPoppy.
Poppystraddled me, throwing her arm around my neck with legs wrapped around my waist.Ikissed her neck and cheeks while my hands moved over her body to ensure this wasn’t a mirage.
Thegown was tied in the back, suited more for comfort than fashion.Herraven hair was in two braids, draping over each shoulder.Despitethe pain shooting off my right hand, the heat radiating off her was a call that couldn’t go unanswered.
Shewas so damn beautiful.
Everypart of my body was in agony.Therewas a slight limp in my steps, too, but her embrace was magic.Iwas okay again.Icould breathe again from just the sight of her after the grueling separation.
“Oh, look.You’realive, after all.Goodfor you.”DespiteZane’sattempt to sound bored at the status of my mortality,Idetected a hint of relief.
“Poppy,Ibrought your favorite…Damon!”Piyagasped.
Piyarushed inside the room upon noticingPoppyin my embrace.Shehugged us both but awkwardly disengaged when neither of us let go of the inappropriate display of public affection.Wedidn’t give a fuck that her parents were in the room.
Piyawas the one to break up the reunion. “Poppy, your eyes,” she spoke in awe.
Ipulled back to inspect my girl, gently setting her down on the bed with my arms wrapped around her.Ididn’t thinkIcould separate from her again in this lifetime.
Poppypatted her cheeks drenched in moisture. “I’mleaking,” she exclaimed, horrified. “Whatthe hell’s going on?Whyare my eyes leaking?”
Piyalaughed. “You’renot leaking, baby.You’recrying.”
Whereit should’ve been alarming, it seemed to make her mother immensely happy.Poppywas crying for the first time in her life, an emotionPiyanever thought she’d witness in her daughter.
