Page 69 of Insatiable Hunger

Then Elias comes barging into my life, knocking down every barrier I thought I’d set up. Destroying my comfortability and making me rethink everything.

More than once since finding out about Elias’s relation to Val, I’ve considered coming clean to her. Or, at the very least, ending this so I’m not continuously living a lie. More so since he moved back in, and I was forced to face these feelings.

She deserves to know the truth, but there’s no way to tell her without destroying her. I’ve run through every possible scenario, trying to find the gentlest way, and none of them are fair to her.

Blowing out a breath, I drag a hand down my face. I wish he’d just fucking talk to me. I hate the way I miss him. I don’t miss anybody, ever. Pulling my phone out, I send a text I know I shouldn’t even bother sending but can’t help myself.

Me: I’ve given you space, Elias. Time’s up. We need to talk.

Setting the phone down, I’m able to pick out a movie, starting it, before my phone rings. My heart lurches into my throat thinking it’s him, but when I flip it over and my sister’s name flashes, my body deflates into the couch.

Connecting the call, I bring it up to my ear. “Hello?”

“Hey, Zekey.” Her voice is the type of chipper that I know is forced, especially with the way she’s calling me“Zekey.”She only does that when she’s trying to cushion what she’s about to say, like I’m a child who can’t handle it.

“Cut the shit, Elena. Whatever it is you need to tell me, say it.”

“Can’t I be calling just because I miss you?”

“Sure, you can,” I mutter. “But you’re not. You’re trying to pussyfoot around it. You gave yourself away with that nickname.”

Her heavy sigh echoes in my ear before the line goes quiet. So quiet, I have to make sure she didn’t hang up on me. Wouldn’t be the first time.

“Okay, fine,” she dejects. “There’s something I need to tell you that I’ve been putting off.”

“No…” My stomach sinks. There’s only one thing she’d need to tell me that would make her sound so despondent.

“It’s back, Zeke.” Her voice cracks on my name. Pressure builds behind my eyes as I try to put together what she’s saying. The blood roars in my ears, making it hard for me to concentrate. “The cancer is back.”

“How bad?” I ask, but it’s like I’m not even here. Maybe watching this happen from above. Or even imagining it, because surely, we can’t be back hereagain.

“Stage four,” she whispers, emotion thick on her tongue.

Each word is another blow to the chest. My throat constricts against the lump forming, making it impossible to swallow. “What can they do?” I ask, trying desperately to hold on to hope, but the feeling in my gut telling me there is none.

“Zeke…”

“How long have you known about this, Elena?” My tone is harsher than I mean.

Another sob works its way up her throat on the other end of the line, the sound a dagger to my heart. A single tear spills over, falling down my face as I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from breaking down.

“How long, Elena?”

“About five weeks,” she chokes out, making my heart stutter.

Sitting forward on the couch, I put the call on speaker, elbows going to my knees as my head hangs.God-fucking-damnit!

“Dammit, Elena! So, when you were here…”

I don’t have to finish the statement. She knows what I mean. “Yes.” One word that shatters my chest.

“Why?” My voice sounds panicked. It’s foreign to my ears. “Why wouldn’t you tell me the moment you found out, Elena? Why?”

“Because I thought I could beat this without having to worry you! I’ve worried you enough, Zeke.”She sighs, her breath shaky as she continues. “It’s spread into my lymph nodes. Before we could fully treat it, it had spread throughout the rest of my body. It’s everywhere, Zeke, and there is nothing that can be done.”

“Elena, we are family,” I bark. “We have to stick together. You shouldn’t have to go through this alone.”

Her quiet, helpless sobs are all I’m met with.

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