Chapter 6
When I woke up, I was staring at hospital ceiling tiles that had probably seen more death than a war zone.
The doctor making rounds was shaking his head, talking to a nurse.
“Foor kid! Can’t imagine what she’s been through-sexual assault, internal injuries, near-drowning, and now severe lung infection from all that dirty river
water.”
The nurse adjusting my IV looked just as grim. “Gets worse. Lab results came back-she’s got stage four cancer. Has for months, looks like.”
When the doctor noticed my eyes were open, his whole demeanor changed.
“Hey there, sweetheart. Where’s your family? Do they know what’s happening?”
I shook my head and buried my face in the pillow that smelled like industrial bleach and other people’s nightmares.
Do you understand your condition? Cancer’s a tough fight, and it looks like you’ve been battling this alone for a while.”
nodded slightly, still not trusting my voice.
le patted my shoulder with the kind of gentleness I hadn’t felt in forever. “It’s okay to cry now. You don’t have to be strong anymore.”
And that’s when I completely lost it. Twenty-one years of holding everything together just… crumbled. I sobbed into that scratchy hospital pillow until I couldn’t
reathe.
ven strangers could see I was worth caring about. So why couldn’t my own parents love me?
hey’d twist some random teacher’s innocent comment into proof I was a slut, but they wouldn’t believe a word from their own daughter’s mouth.
hey’d built this elaborate lie, let me live in this fantasy for twenty-one years where I mattered to them.
Why did they have to destroy it right when I was about to die anyway?
he exhaustion hit me like a brick wall, and I faded back into darkness.
don’t know how much time passed, but suddenly there were voices everywhere-panicked, desperate voices that seemed to be coming from underwater.
tried to open my eyes, but my body had basically given up on me.
Which made sense.
was already dying before that piece of shit at the motel finished the job. The fact that I was still breathing was probably some kind of medical miracle.
omething cold touched my face-a wet cloth, maybe-and my fingers twitched involuntarily.
Doctor! DOCTOR! Her hand moved! She moved!”
fom’s voice. Shrill with panic.
Emma, baby, can you hear Daddy? Please open your eyes, sweetheart.”
Dad was here too. Of course now they showed up.
felt people poking and prodding me, then heard the doctor’s voice, flat and professional.
I’m afraid the chances of her regaining consciousness are minimal at this point. You should start making arrangements.”
Dad completely lost his shit. “What do you mean ‘minimal? My daughter was fine yesterday! She just had some stomach problems! Now you’re telling me she’s lying? You’re all incompetent! I’m suing this whole fucking hospital!”
The doctor’s voice stayed eerily calm. “Sir, I understand this is difficult, but your daughter has been fighting terminal cancer for months. Combined with the sexual assault and near-drowning… frankly, it’s remarkable she’s survived this long.”
Someone grabbed my hand-Mom’s grip, desperate and warm-and I heard her voice break completely.
“Emma, please don’t be so cruel. If you die, what happens to me and your father? What abou
1 wanted to laugh. I wanted to scream.
Cruel? I was being cruel?
You threw me away first! You never wanted me in the first place!
Someone touched my forehead-Jacob’s voice, rough with emotion he was trying to hide.
“Emma, quit being dramatic and wake up. You’re not gonna make us feel guilty with this bullshit.”
“I won’t feel sorry for you, okay? Not unless you wake up right now and stop this.”
That was Jacob, alright. Still being an asshole even when I was dying.
But you know what? I wasn’t coming back for him. Wasn’t coming back for any of them.
This was better. No more pain. No more heartbreak.
