Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
“She’s fighting. But it isn’t good. She looks so fragile. God, I don’t know what to do. She’s my big sister.” She breaks down, and I pull her into my arms, holding her as she cries.
“She’s a fighter,” I whisper, trying to believe it myself. “She’s going to make it out of this.”
She pulls back, her tear-stricken face full of fear. “And what if she doesn’t? I can’t lose her.”
My heart cracks. “Neither can I.”
She wipes at her tears, her gaze locking on mine. Her brows furrow as confusion sparks across her face. I’ve said too much. Her eyes dart around me. “Where’s Noah?”
“I’m not sure. He’s pretty upset.”
“Okay. Well… if you want to see her. Sounds like you became close during her stay.” How do I admit I’ve fallen in love with her sister—that she’s become so important to me, I can’t imagine my life without her. “Yeah, thanks.” I barely choke out the words. She nods, and I follow her down the hallway, my heart thrashing with each step. When she stops at an open door, I forget to breathe altogether. Georgia lays there, motionless, her pale face painted in scrapes and bruises. A tube protrudes from her mouth, helping her breathe. Countless wires are connected to her as her lifeline.
My hands tremble, unable to fully grasp the sight before me. This should have never happened. I should have kept her safe. Noah’s right. This is my fault.
My feet slowly move, and I approach her bedside, staring at her battered face and the marks of violence. My breath hitches at the fingermarks along her neck. If he weren’t already dead, I would kill Vince myself.
“I need to call my mom. She, uh… she’s too sick to travel. I need to update her.” She takes one last look at her sister and steps out, leaving me alone with her. I sit in the chair and grab her hand. It’s cold, too still.
“Georgia,” my voice falters. I bring her hand to my lips. “Fuck—I’m so sorry.” Guilt, fear, and helplessness crash over me as I lean in, cupping her hand. “Please, Peach. You gotta fight. I need you to fight.” My eyes burn with unshed tears. I kiss her hand. “I can’t lose you.”
The beeping of the machines fills the room, but not loud enough to drown out the thoughts racing through my mind. I’d give anything to hear her laugh again, to see the fire in her eyes—even if it meant arguing with her just one more time.
“You have to fight, Peach. I’m going to make things right. I promise you.” The knot in my throat stops me from saying any more—vows I can’t make if she doesn’t fight and come back to me.
Her chest rises and falls gently, each breath supported by the steady hum of the machines. A startled gasp has my gaze darting to the doorway. Noah is motionless, his eyes wide. “Oh my God.” I go to him, pulling him into my embrace. His chest rumbles as the tears come. “She doesn’t deserve this.”
“I know, son.”
“Is she gonna die?”
“No. We can’t think like that.” I struggle to be strong for him, the thought of that being the end result suffocating. I feel my composure slipping. “She’ll fight.”
The door opens, and Lettie walks in, wiping at her face. “Any changes? Has a doctor been in?”
“No,” I answer. “Just us. Were you able to get in touch with your mom?”
“Yeah.”
Noah turns, his shoulders squared, his eyes hardening. “She too busy to come be with her daughter while she’s fighting for her life?”
Lettie flinches like Noah slapped her. Her lips part in disbelief, only to quickly twist into a mask of seething rage. “Excuse me? You know nothing about my mother.”
“I know she doesn’t give a shit about her daughter. If she did, she’d be here—”
She takes a menacing step closer. “My mother isn’t here because she’s really sick.”
“Great excuse. Nursing another beating—”
“She has fucking cancer, you asshole!” She launches herself at him, shoving her fists into his chest. Noah’s face twists in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief. The color drains from his face as he stumbles back.
“I—I didn’t know.”
“Lettie, calm down—”
“No! Stop telling me to calm down! My mom’s going to die because we can’t afford treatment, and my sister is halfway there! I am not going to CALM DOWN!” A guttural sob rattles her chest. I watch her body shudder, her knees bending as she nearly collapses, and I catch her before she falls to the ground. “She can’t die. They can’t leave me. I’ll have no one.”
“Georgia never said—”
“Because she won’t take her calls. Mom just wants to make things right with her before she dies, and now she won’t be able to.” Her pain is crushing. I feel it deep in my chest.
“Lettie, is your mom in a hospital? Is she unable to fly?”