Page 154 of Aftersome
I wouldn’t survive it.
With her body cradled in my arms, I slowly lowered us onto the ground where I could pull my phone out and call an ambulance.
“It’s going to be okay, Doe. Take deep, steady breaths for me,” I demanded firmly, although I felt on the verge of collapsing right beside her.
My brave girl was trying so hard.
In and out she was breathing, but on a wince, her eyes started to flutter. Dialing 911, I demanded that they get here quickly and rattled off my address.
“Keep your eyes open for me, baby. I know it's hard but I need you to try.” My voice was unrelenting in its attempts at keeping her awake. Her eyes began to fill with tears as she responded with a short nod that unsettled me.
I couldn’t fucking stand it.
“No,” I demanded. “No tears, Doe. You’re going to be okay, you hear me?” I used the pad of my thumb to wipe along her cheeks. “You’re not… You’re not…”
My throat was clogged with the words I couldn’t say.
My eyes then slammed tightly shut as a burst of pain shot throughout my chest.
“Mal…” she whispered as I felt her cool palm cup my jaw. Instantly, my eyes shot open.
Everything about the way she was looking at me was wrong. Her somber smile, the fountain of tears that were streaming down her face, I didn’t want this.
This wasn’t how our story was supposed to end.
Not like this.
Then on a sharp intake of breath, she opened her mouth. “I love you.”
Anger immediately radiated throughout my body.
Why the fuck was this happening? And why was she acting as if that would be the last chance she had to tell me she loved me?
She wasn’t dying.
My girl, the love of my goddamn life, wasn't dying.
Then suddenly, in the blink of an eye, her hand had slipped from my face and her eyes began to flutter.
“Doe!” I gave her a shake, but her eyes refused to open. “Doe… You need to open your eyes!” Dread began to sweep through me as I continued to shout and jerk her lifeless body, but nothing happened.
Was she…
No…
“Baby, wake up,” I demanded, as I felt my throat begin to harden painfully.
Blinking, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her.
“Doe,” I said again, but this time it came out on a whispered sob that slashed its way up my throat. Everything burned. My eyes, my heart, and on a whim, I lowered my head until my ear hovered over her mouth.
I couldn’t tell if she was breathing.
I couldn’t hear anything over the incessant pounding my heart.
As I pulled my head back, the faint sounds of thumping feet soon came bursting through the room, along with assertive voices that had taken the spot next to me.
Everything that happened next was a blur. The CPR, the noises, I felt like my whole world was crumbling at my feet and all that was left to do was to let it all out.
