Chapter 15
Keith’s POV
The phone rang, pulling me out of my thoughts. When I saw Nicole‘ s name flash on the screen, I hesitated for a moment before answering.
“Hello, Nicole,” I greeted, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Keith, how’s Emily?” Nicole’s voice was filled with concern.
“She’s stable currently, but it’s going to take time,” I replied, glancing at Emily resting quietly.
“I want to be there for her,” Nicole said, her voice wavering. “I know
I haven’t been the best mother, but I need to fix this. After Jimson… I realize how much I’ve lost.”
“I understand, but Emily’s not ready,” I said gently. “She’s been through a lot, and right now, she’s protecting herself.”
“Please tell her I’m here for her, Keith. I need her to know that.”
“I’ll tell her,” I promised, though I doubted how Emily would respond. “But she needs time.”
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“Thank you,” Nicole whispered. “I just hope it’s not too late.”
“Me too,” I said softly, ending the call.
I hung up the phone and turned my attention back to Emily. She was still asleep, her face pale against the hospital pillow, but even in her weakened state, she looked beautiful–more beautiful than I had ever noticed before.
It was a beauty that went beyond the physical, something that radiated from within her. I wondered how I had missed it all these
years, how I had been so blind to the woman she truly was.
Gently, I reached out and touched her hand, my fingers brushing over her cool skin. The memory of that day, the day of the explosion, came rushing back. I had been furious when I called her, my anger boiling over as I demanded to know what she had said to Lily.
I barely remember what she said in response because, in the next moment, I heard the explosion. The sound was so loud, so violent, that it seemed to shake the very ground beneath me. And then the line went dead.
I had never felt fear like that before, not even when I had thought I lost Lily nine years ago. This was different–deeper, more intense. It was a fear that gripped me by the throat and refused to let go.
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As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, my eyes wandered to the gifts. and cards piled on the bedside table. They were from her students, a clear testament to the impact she had on their lives. I had never really understood what a great teacher she was.
I had been so wrapped up in my own world, in my own desires, that I hadn’t taken the time to appreciate the things that made her who she was. Seeing all those gifts made me realize just how much she was loved, how much she was valued by the people around her.
The door to the room opened, and Lily and Tyler walked in. Lily looked as composed as ever, but there was a shadow of concern. in her eyes. Tyler, on the other hand, looked like he hadn’t slept in days. His usual confident demeanor was gone, replaced by a weariness that I hadn’t seen in him before.
“Keith, you need to go home and get some rest,” Lily said softly, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve been here for hours. Let us take care of her for a while.”
I shook my head, unwilling to leave Emily’s side. “I can’t, Lily. I need to be here. What if something happens? I can’t-”
“Keith, she’s stable,” Tyler interjected, his voice surprisingly gentle. “We’ll call you if there’s any change. You need to take care of yourself too.”
Their words made sense, but my instincts screamed at me to stay. I hesitated, torn between my need to be here and the undeniable fact that I was running on fumes. I finally stood up, my legs feeling.
Chapter 15
like lead as I prepared to leave.
But before I could take a step, Lily leaned in and kissed me on the mouth–a kiss that felt foreign. We had kissed countless times before, but it had always been on the cheek or the forehead, never like this. It felt… forced, like we were trying to recapture something that had long since slipped away.
“Go home, Keith,” Lily whispered against my lips. “We’ll be here.”
I nodded, though the unease in my chest only grew as, I left the hospital. The drive home was a blur, my thoughts consumed by the image of Emily lying in that hospital bed.
When I finally got home, I took a long, hot shower, hoping to wash away the exhaustion and the lingering sense of dread that clung to me. But it didn’t help. I collapsed onto the bed, intending to rest for just a moment, but sleep claimed me almost instantly, pulling me under with a force I couldn’t resist.
When I woke up, it was already dark outside. Panic seized me as I realized how long I had been asleep. I rushed to get dressed and sped back to the hospital, my heart pounding with each passing second. When I finally arrived, I found the room empty except for Emily and Frank. Lily and Tyler were nowhere to be seen. I learned that they had been kicked out.
I stopped outside the door, catching their laughter. They were joking about my jealousy, and it hit me hard. Anger surged, and I pushed the door open, seeing them together. The sight of Frank so
close to Emily sent a wave of frustration through me. I wanted to break them apart, to remind Frank that Emily had once been mine.
“What’s going on here?” I demanded, my voice harsher than I intended.
Emily’s expression hardened as she looked at me. “What does it look like, Keith? We’re talking. Something you and I never did.”
Her words stung, but I refused to back down. “You kicked Lily and Tyler out? What’s your problem, Emily? Why are you doing this?”
“You’re one to talk about problems,” Emily shot back, her eyes. flashing with anger. “You’ve had no issue pushing me around for years, Keith. Well, guess what? I’m done with that.”
Frank stepped between us, his presence a calming force. “Take it easy, both of you. This isn’t the time or place.”
I glared at him, resenting his interference. Who was he to tell me what to do? But before I could say anything, a knock at the door interrupted us.
A detective entered, his expression serious as he introduced himself as Frank’s senior. He was here to take Emily’s statement, to see if she remembered anything from the day of the explosion.
As the detective questioned Emily, guilt gnawed at me. She couldn‘ t recall much because she had been distracted during our phone
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call.
The realization hit me like a punch to the gut–I had been the
reason she was distracted, the reason she hadn’t seen the danger coming. I couldn’t help but feel responsible for what had happened to her.
The detective explained that Emily might have been targeted, though they weren’t sure if it was connected to the criminal gang or something else entirely. The uncertainty only added to my anxiety. Someone wanted to hurt her, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was my fault.
