Page 133 of From Nowhere

Ozzy: Have you heard anything about Maren?

Taylor: Not yet. I can check again

Ozzy: Please do

Taylor: Is there something going on between you two?

I stare at his text.

Ozzy: Yes

I wait five minutes, pacing my room.

Ten minutes.

Just as I start to type another text, my phone pings.

Taylor: They’ve found her location. Crews are en route

Ozzy: Any word on her condition?

I swallow hard while my eyes burn with more emotions.

Taylor: No. But you need to prepare yourself

I ever so slowly type two words—five letters and a space.

Ozzy: I know

Aircraft accidents are unforgiving.Lifeis unforgiving.

Chapter Thirty-Five

After five hours of staring at shadows on my ceiling, I get a text. It’s just after three in the morning.

Taylor: Maren’s alive

He starts with the good part, and I take my first full breath since Ira called me last night.

Taylor: She’s been transported to the nearest level 1 trauma center

Taylor: She’s in surgery. I’ll update you as soon as I can

I call him.

“Hey, it’s all I know for now,” he says.

“Did I work on that plane?”

“Yes, but it wasn’t—”

“Jesus. I worked on that plane. I worked. On. That. Fucking. Plane.”

“Oz—”

“Don’t say it. You don’t know yet. What if I missed something? What if she—” I choke on my words as emotion burns my eyes.

“One day at a time. Okay? It could be weeks or months before we know anything for sure. Today she’s alive. You are a damn good mechanic. Meticulous and thorough. Don’t take the blame for this. It’s way too soon. Okay?”

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