Page 107 of Meant to Be
“He won’t get in the way anymore.” Julia’s voice sounded calm, considering what she’d just done. “Is he dead?”
Mitch wasn’t afraid to die, but he wasn’t ready for it now. His best chance at avoiding getting shot again was to pretend he was dead. It shouldn’t be that hard. He was nearly there. He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing.
“Oh, God, Mitch. No, no, no, no…” Sydney wept over him, her hands pressed to his chest.
“Have you gone insane? Give me that!”
Mitch was sure only a few seconds had passed from when Julia shot him until Patrick made an attempt to get the gun, but it felt like an eternity.
“What were you thinking? Oh my God, Julia… I’m calling 911.”
“No, don’t,” Julia screeched. “He’s in the way.”
“I can’t believe you did this! Yes, I have an emergency.” Patrick rattled off their location in the park.
“Mitch.” Sydney kept her hands over his wound, jiggling him. “Come on, Mitch, wake up.”
Hoping Patrick was successful in wrangling the gun from Julia, he peeked an eye open.
“That’s right, Mitch. Stay with me.”
One look in her eyes told him it didn’t look good. She would know. She was a doctor. So there was only one thing left to do.
He reached for her hand, slick and warm from his blood.
“Syd.” His throat was dry and gritty, like sandpaper. His lungs burned with the need for air he couldn’t suck in.
“Don’t talk, Mitch. Save your strength.”
He squeezed her hand. “Syd. I love you.”
“Just lie still. Help is coming.”
She wasn’t paying attention. “I love you. I never stopped.”
Her tear-filled eyes gazed into his. “Oh, Mitch.”
“I messed up, but I’ve always loved you. Always.”
“Then fight.” She leaned over and pressed her lips gently against his. “Fight.”
He still hurt, but a sense of peace spread through him. She knew he loved her. Now he could go. He closed his eyes and let the darkness come.
Sydney satin the hospital in a daze. Even as she replayed it in her mind, she couldn’t put what happened together in a way that made sense. Her best friend from childhood had stabbed her, stabbed Jenny, and shot Mitch. Yes, Julia had always been adamant the three of them stay together, but how could she commit murder to make it happen?
Julia’s actions brought home just how earth-shattering, life-altering, a betrayal could be. How could she not have seen how unhinged Julia was? No wonder Mitch had closed off the world. She didn’t know if she could have confidence to make the right decisions about people when one of the friends she trusted the most could commit such a heinous act.
And Mitch. Oh, God. She squeezed her eyes shut, as if it would rid her mind of the memory of him jerking and falling to the ground. The warmth of his blood as it oozed through her fingers, despite her attempt to stop it.
She remembered his memories of losing Brian. Of holding his best friend and not being able to do anything to save him. Her heart had broken for him as he spoke. Now she understood that torture. She knew the helplessness and hopelessness of holding someone as he waited to die. And the guilt. So much guilt. Because of her, he was fighting for his life.
“Syd, I love you.” His words echoing in her mind made the guilt even worse. Why hadn’t she told him she loved him back? What if he died without knowing she loved him too? She’d always loved him. She loved him even more now.
If he lived, and he still wanted a relationship, even just friendship, she’d give it to him.God, please let him live.
“Hey, you okay?” Patrick sat next to her in one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs.
“I thought you’d be with Julia.” She didn’t hold it against him. Patrick and Julia were so close. She imagined he was feeling the same shock, maybe even worse. He was a psychiatrist and somehow hadn’t seen how disturbed his sister was.
