Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 85342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“She’s gone,” she says. “She’s gone, and I couldn’t save her.” Her voice cracks, and I can’t even imagine the guilt she’s feeling. My hands move to cover the shirt, hoping she focuses on my hands instead. I wait a couple of seconds before I move one hand under her chin. I slowly lift her head and see her eyes glazed over, the tears rolling over the bottom lids as they fall on my hand still on top of hers.
“Hey, you did everything you could,” I say quietly. She looks at me, but for some reason, I feel like she’s not even seeing me. “Let’s get you in the bath.” I stand and pull her up with me. The shirt falls from her hands to the floor as she starts to shiver. “We’ll get you in a nice warm bath.” I move one step at a time with her. “It’s going to be okay,” I say once I get her into the bathroom, the tub almost full.
“She’s all alone.” She stops by the tub as she looks down at the water. “She died alone with no one.”
I swallow down the hiss that wants to come out. I swallow down the anger raging through my veins. “You did everything you could,” I reassure her, knowing her head is telling her the opposite of what I’m saying. “Let’s get you in the tub.” I turn her and unclasp her bra. My eyes don’t move from hers as her bra falls to the floor. “Step in,” I urge her, opting to let her keep her panties on.
She looks at me. “Why?” she asks, and all I can do is look at her. “Why?” She looks down for a second and then looks back up at me. “Why her?”
“I don’t know, sweetheart.” I push her hair away from her face. “No one has that answer.”
“I should have…” Her voice trails off. “She could have been so much more.”
The burning forms in my stomach. “Step in.” I hold her hand in mine as I move a bit so she can step into the tub. She puts her first foot in the tub and then climbs in with the other foot. I get down on my knees beside the tub, pulling her slowly down with me. Her hand slips from mine as she sits in the middle with her legs folded in front of her. I get up for a second, walking over and getting a cup from the counter. “I’m going to wash your hair,” I say, wanting to wash this whole day off her, wanting to get every single part of her clean. I fill the cup with water and slowly pour it over her head. “Is it too warm?” I ask. She doesn’t answer, just shakes her head.
“I failed.” She says those two words, and then it happens in slow motion. Her hand comes up to her mouth, and she lets out a bone-chilling sob. It’s like it was ripped from her soul. Her body shakes uncontrollably, and I rise, getting into the tub with her. I sit behind her, my legs going along hers as I wrap my arms around her.
She collapses her back on my chest, and I lean back in the tub. “I’ve got you,” I whisper into her hair as I hold her. “Let it out.”
CHAPTER 9
Julia
The sound of a soft alarm fills the room, and I try to open my eyes, but they’re so heavy I can’t. My eyes finally flicker open, and I look up at the ceiling. I look at the white walls, and then my eyes roam the room. I blink them a couple of times as I look up at the ceiling, the soft light from the outside coming in. I feel the movement on the bed and I see his back as he leans over and turns off the alarm. Chase, I think and everything from last night comes rushing back to me and I sit up quickly. “Is it the hospital?” I’m about to throw the sheet off me and get out of bed.
“It’s the alarm,” Chase says, holding up his phone, showing me, and I lie back down in the bed, my eyes stinging and burning. “Since you’re up,” he says softly and I look over at him. “I’ll make coffee.” He gets up out of the bed and walks toward the bedroom door. “I’ll be back,” he tells me over his shoulder and I don’t say anything.
I turn my head to the side, looking out of the window and seeing the sun coming out, but the clouds look like they are rolling in. The memory of last night comes back so vivid in my mind. Sobbing in the bath in Chase’s arms. I have never lost it like that in front of anyone. I mean, I’ve never lost it that bad—period, forget about if I did it in front of people. I’ve had days where I’ve become withdrawn when stuff happens, avoiding phone calls or seeing anyone. However, a couple of days later, I pull up my big panties and push the bad away.