Page 22 of After Everything
Like I'd orchestrated his downfall. Like his choices hadn't led here all on their own.
This week—week seven, eight? I'd lost count, really, but the messages had gotten shorter. Sadder.
I miss you.
I'm sorry.
Please.
I scrolled through them without openingany. The most recent was from this morning. Just three words.
I love you.
I deleted it. Deleted all of them. It felt good. Final.
My phone buzzed. A text from Jess.
How's your shift? Staying hydrated? Eating actual food?
I smiled despite myself and texted back:
Just coded a patient. She's stable. I'm good.
That's my girl. Dinner tonight?
Can't. Night shift tomorrow, need to sleep. Rain check?
You got it.Love you.
Love you too.
I put my phone away and stood up. My break was almost over. Mrs. Ellis would need monitoring, and there were three other patients on my roster who needed meds and assessments.
I was halfway to the door when my phone buzzed again.
I almost didn't check it. Probably just Jess sending a meme or something.
But I looked anyway.
Unknown number. A text.
Emma, it's David. I know you blocked me. I'm using a different phone. Please don't block this one too. I just need five minutes. That's all I'm asking. Please.
I stared at the screen.
Five minutes. Like that would fix anything. Like there was anything he could say that would change what he'd done.
I blocked the number and went back to work.
Eleven hours into my shift,I was standing at the nurses' station updating patient charts when I heard the commotion.
Raised voices from the elevator bay. Someone saying "Sir, you need to check in at the front desk." Another voice—male, insistent—saying something I couldn't quite make out.
I looked up.
David was walking toward the ICU.
My stomach dropped.
