Chapter 3

3

I slumped against the wall, defeated. My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was Andy.

"Andy! Why didn't you answer when Conrad called?" I cried out.

Andy's voice was a ragged, sobbing mess. "Natalie… the doctors… they made me sign a DNR notice. They said her heart stopped. They're starting emergency surgery now, but they need a specialist. Where is he? Where is my brother?"

The world tilted on its axis. I let out a broken wail, tears blurring my vision.

I turned back to the door and began pounding on it with my fists, my knees, my entire body.

"Conrad! Open the door! Open it now! She's flatlining! If you don't come out right now, I swear to God, you will regret this for the rest of your life!"

Silence. Nothing but the muffled sound of Conrad whispering sweet nothings to Willow.

I realized then that Conrad was a lost cause. I didn't waste another second. I ran for the elevator.

By the time I made it back to the surgical wing, the atmosphere had changed. It was too quiet.

The lead surgeon looked at me with pity in his eyes. He let out a long, weary breath.

"The damage was too extensive, and we lost too much time. We did everything we could, but we couldn't bring her back."

"You can go in and say your goodbyes now."

The words were like a physical blow to the head. My legs gave out, and I hit the floor hard.

Down the hall, I could hear Andy's agonizing scream as he ran into the room.

It felt like a thousand needles were piercing my heart. I forced myself to stand, my body feeling like it was made of lead.

I walked into that room, every step feeling like a mile.

The lights were dimmed. The shadow cast a gray hue over her pale, still face. She looked so small under the hospital blankets.

Andy was draped over her body, shaking with violent sobs.

"Mom, please! Wake up! Look at me!" he wailed. "I promise I'll be better! I won't ever talk back again! Just please don't leave!"

Suddenly, her finger twitched. It was a miracle of terminal lucidity. Her eyes fluttered open, though they were clouded and unfocused.

"Andy…" she whispered, her voice like dry leaves. "I'm going now… you have to take care of yourself."

Then, her eyes moved toward me. She was looking behind me, searching for someone who wasn't there.

The disappointment in her eyes broke me. "Natalie… where's Conrad? Did Willow take him away again?"

I couldn't tell her the truth. I couldn't let her die with that weight. "Mom, don't worry. He's… he's on his way. He'll be here any second. Just hold on for him, okay?"

She didn't believe me. She reached out a shaking hand and touched my hair one last time.

"Natalie, I always loved you like my own daughter. What Conrad did… it's wrong. I won't make excuses for him."

"If you can't stay with him, then leave. You're a good woman. You shouldn't have to suffer like this."

I grabbed her hand and squeezed it, trying to pull her back to life. "Mom, please, stay! There's so much we haven't done yet!"

Her hand went limp. Her eyes closed, and the monitor flatlined into a long, haunting drone.

The world collapsed around me. I drowned in a sea of grief so deep I thought I'd never breathe again.