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"I’ for you God, baby, I’ve missed you so much"

She blinks Once Twice

I hold her stare, my heart, and my breath as I wait for her to find focus

Fear seeps intoscared that this isn’t the sanize me Or worse

Kish had warned me that her e to her brain

Either hoever I have here, I’ll take her I’ll take any version of Tru I can get

Her lips part, but the only thing I hear is a light breath escape

"Shh, don’t try to talk, sweetheart" I smooth her hair back "It’s okay You’re okay"

I watch her eyes, waiting Desperately waiting to see if this is my Tru

She closes her eyes, and I see a tear trickle from the corner of her eye

My heart iaze hits nition of ot irl back

TRU…

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Jake, I know you’re there, I can hear you talking

Why isn’t he answeringto? Why does he sound so upset?

I need…

Jake?

I can barely think I need to open my eyes but…

"Hurt" I can hear "Hurt"…

How long have I been awake? Is that Jake yelling? Who is he yelling at?

God, my head hurts My whole body hurts, for that matter

I try to open , but ether, and there’s an intense burning sensation in , I try tohurts What’s wrong with

Oh God, what’s happening to me?

Jake, I need you to help

No! Don’t leave! Please don’t go!

Fuck!

I need toht arm and I dare not attempt to move it

I’m scared

No, you’re okay, Tru Just keep calm and you’ll be fine

Maybe I’m just sick? Yeah, that’ll be it I’ll have one of those really bad twenty-four-hour flus or so God, I hope the baby isn’t sick with ; then everything else will follow, and I can get to Jake Once I get to Jake, I’ll feel better

I focus on er I feel itconfidence, I go to o

Flexing them in and out, I shift my left hand and et up now, maybe if I--

"Trudy?"

What?

Who is that? Is that…Susie? Why is she here?

With huge effort, I wrench y Dark I can’t get a focus on anything

Then I hear voices calling out More yelling

Dave?

Then Jake…I hear Jake He’s back

Thank God

"Tru" He sounds fearful "Tru, baby, I’m here"

Why does he sound so scared?

Fear starts to prickleeyes to work! Goddaain, "Get the doctor!"

Doctor? Where the hell am I?

"Get Eva and Billy!"

Muers touchfor you God, baby, I’ve missed you so much"

He’s missed me?

At the feel of Jake on my skin, my worry starts to ease That h the haze, desperate to see hies before my eyes focus

Then they find his beautiful face

He looks really tired Like he hasn’t slept for days Worst of all, he looks afraid I can see it clear in his eyes

The last tiirl in his bed And that was because he thought he was going to lose me

Oh God, what’s happened, baby?