Page 86 of Final Temptation
I was in unfamiliar territory. This wasn’t my bedroom, parents’ house, or Declan’s. The room smelled of cleaning products and flowers, and the walls were bare and bland. It didn’t take me long to realize I was in a hospital room.
What do I remember?
Why am I here?
Why does my chest feel so heavy?
My neck didn’t want to move just yet, but I’d know that smell anywhere. It was the floral perfume I spent so many nights dreaming about before landinghere.
Sophie.
I could feel her steady breaths.
I could smell the sweet scent of her blonde locks.
I could feel her hands resting on my chest with a grip so tight, it felt like home.
My heart rate spiked.
Lying here, stiff as a board, I could feel, I could smell, and I could see. The feeling of true panic washed over me for the first time since that night, and I was coming back to life with Sophie right by my side in the process.
My body was slowly starting to come back to me, but even at a snail’s pace, with her by my side, I felt like I was soaring.
With everything in me, I willed my body to reach and touch her, but it immediately backfired. I wasn’t strong enough. When I realized I couldn’t touch her like I’d wanted to for so long, my body internally freaked out. The beeping of the machine was only getting louder, simultaneously grabbing her attention.
Her gorgeous eyes met mine, laced with fear and excitement. “Myles, can you hear me?”
“Yes, I can hear you, loud and clear. I’ve been able to hear you every single day for God knows how many of those I’ve been laying here,” I wanted to scream, but my throat wouldn’t allow it.
The nurse ran into the room, something about her strikingly familiar. She hovered over me for a moment, assessing my eyes. “Honey, Myles is awake,” she spoke in a calm, endearing voice.
Awake.
Was I finally back? Or was this all another dream? Maybe it was another terrible joke of a nightmare.
What kind of cruel prank would that be?
Where was Sophie? Why couldn’t I feel her anymore?
Her body heat no longer warmed my chest when the nurse took over, doing her job to gather as much information as she could on my condition.
“S-S-Soph-ie,” I attempted to mumble, the syllables coming out in a hoarse cough.
“Myles!” she cried from a distance, her steps thumping in my direction. “Oh my God. Please tell me you remember me.” Her warm hand encompassed mine, and her gorgeous eyes glistened with fresh tears ready to fall.
Remember her? How in the hell could I forget her?
Feeling groggy, my hand clutched hers with as much strength as I could manage. Her eyes flew down to our hands, confirming it wasn’t just me; she could feel me too.
“God bless my late husband,” the nurse mumbled under her breath.
“Yeah, seriously,” a sigh of relief slipped from Sophie’s lips, “Anthony Wilson sure was looking out for you today, one year to the day.”
“And time,” the nurse added.
The nurse.
Paige’s mom.
