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Chapter One

GO HOME, TURN OFF THE LIGHTS, AND KILL YOURSELF

My lids popped wide open, and my eyes danced around the dark room Worry, fear, and panic returned as the naked white walls of the hospital rooreen nulow as I recalled the events from the day before

Paraout was theparts played over and over infro for the hospital—it was all crowded together in my head

I closed s away Weston’s rhythmic breaths and the staccato beeps of his life on thewas going to be okay

My body lined his, and I was hyperaware of every inch of own He was so wariven us I lay still, wrapped in the ar fro

Hints of a sunrise were already slipping through the blinds and chasing away the darkness Weston stirred, and I silently wished the night had held on just a little longer

Veronica Gates was reading a azine in the overstuffed ular black-riht on her cell phone to see

I lifted my head, which prompted her to look up

“Good ,” she whispered, nearly inaudible

Not wanting to risk waking up Weston, the only thing I could offer was a sainst Weston’s chest, his arhtened, and he pulled in a deep breath

Veronica h, and then shecloser to the bed “He used to hold his teddy bear like that If I tried to pull it out of his arrip”

She crossed her legs and intertwined her fingers, watching her son with unqualified love “He carade, and quitea seven-year-old Weston She breathed out a laugh again, lost in the memory “Peter asked him, ‘When?’ Weston said, ‘Later,’ and then I asked him, ‘Who?’ He said, ‘Erin’” She watched for ht he meant Alder, but then he made me promise never to tell you that story, and I realized I had been wrong”

My breath faltered

“That was a long tio I don’t think he’d mind now” She looked down at Weston and then back at lad he meant you, Erin I don’t think I’ve told you that”

“I’ive up,” I whispered

Weston stirred again, and Veronica leaned in closer to get a better look at her son

He groaned “Erin?”

Veronica raised an eyebrow and then shot a knowing look my way

“I’m here,” I said

With his eyes still closed, he leaned down the inch or two to graze h to see what the shadows had hidden just ten minutes before

Weston sighed “Good Don’t leave”

“I won’t,” I said

“In that case, I’d better get you so

“Goodtoo loud after Veronica had been so careful to whisper “I’ht pink scrubs matched her mood