Chapter 4
1 paused for a beat, then said, “Sure.”
My throat felt tight. “Blake, can you just drop the charges? That way I don’t have to go back to the station and we won’t… run into each other.”
God, this wind was brutal. My nose was going numb.
Blake looked up at me, just standing there shivering in the cold.
He seemed to notice for the first time how skinny I’d gotten-like stick-thin.
He looked away and his voice got even icier. “Not my call. Deal with it yourself.”
My throat was burning.
“Okay, whatever. I’ll handle it. Just tell me when you’re off duty?”
Dead silence.
The wind was freezing and there wasn’t a single star in the sky.
3lake suddenly said out of nowhere:
Stella, I’m starting to think my shitty childhood wasn’t actually the worst thing that happened to me.”
looked at him confused. “What?”
He let out a bitter laugh. “Dating you was.”
‘hen he just walked away.
lis words hit me like a punch to the gut.
t hurt so bad I couldn’t even think of a comeback.
stood there frozen, my eyes starting to burn.
ut I didn’t cry. I refused to cry.
hurt him when we broke up, so I guess this makes us even.
went upstairs and took the hottest shower possible, then collapsed into bed.
My phone buzzed-the bar owner had sent my paycheck, and it was ten grand more than usual.
ught after, my boss texted me.
Stella, the extra cash is for putting up with all that bullshit today. My wife’s been a total nightmare lately-menopause is making her lose her mind. Sorry you ot caught in the middle.”
stared at the message forever, then glanced at my empty pill bottle on the nightstand…
Thanks.”
I took the money, even though it felt weird about it.
I was completely out of meds and had to get to the hospital anyway.
Morning came way too fast.
Doctor’s office.
“Stella. I can’t keep writing you scripts. You need to check yourself in right now, or…”
The X-ray on the light box looked like a constellation of bad news.
I couldn’t read medical stuff, but I got the gist.
“If I check in, is there actually a chance I’ll get better?”
Right after I said it, this wave of sadness just hit me.
My biological dad died from the same thing. Diagnosed to dead in under a year.
Somehow I’ve lasted five.
My chest felt all tight, but I tried to smile anyway.
“Doc, we’ve both been fighting this thing for three years now. But honestly…”
“I can’t handle dying in some sterile hospital room. If I get admitted, that’s it-I’m done.”
“At least out here, maybe I’ve got a shot at… I don’t know, something.”
Leaving the doctor’s office, I took the escalator down to the pharmacy.
As it slowly went down, I caught sight of someone familiar below.
Even from like fifty feet away, I knew it was Blake.
Some people just get seared into your memory-you’d know their outline anywhere.
Blake was here with Sophia getting their pre-wedding blood work done.
hey were holding hands, all giddy about their future, laughing as they headed to the lab.
smiled too, but it felt hollow.
ame fucking day.
‘m getting told I’m dying while he’s living his best life.
Whatever. At least one of us gets a happy ending.
blinked away the burning in my eyes, pulled my cap down, and walked right past Blake and Sophia.
d only gone a few steps when Blake turned around.
ophia stopped too, following his gaze.
Someone you know?”
lake paused for a second, then shook his head. “Nah.”
le gripped her hand tighter and smiled at her all soft. “Let’s keep going.”
n that packed lobby, I headed one way while Blake went the other with Sophia’s hand in his.
Neither of us looked back.
picked up my pain meds and bolted from the hospital.
In the Uber, the driver asked where to.
All I could see was Blake’s face from last night-pure disgust written all over it.
I stayed quiet for a minute. “Police station.”
The car pulled away and everything outside became a blur.
This is it, I thought. Everything’s really fucking over.
