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The doors opened and I stepped out into the quiet hall The nurses at the end didn’t pay ht Maybe it was because of my unifor above the less doors I came to the end and turned left

My feet stopped as if I’d stepped in cement

Halfway down the hall, there was an older couple talking to a ed doctor The man was tall with brown hair and the woman was shorter with the deepest…the deepest red hair

Both were pale as the doc reached out, cla his hand on thesaid, but the doctor spoke again, and the woman’s face crumpled as she placed her hand over her aze traveled to the room beyond them The door opened and a nurse stepped out All I could see was a curtain and a hand--a pale, s

Fuck I pressed the palainst my chest as the door drifted shut Footsteps pounded up the hall, and I looked, recognizing the man as only a year older than Andrea--her brother, Brody He didn’t even seelike cracks of thunder

I leaned against the wall as it hitsla coincidences No point to hope there was some kind of mistake It was her Pain lit up ave out and I slid down the wall,the floor I dropped my arms over my knees and just stared ahead It was her

It was Andrea

Chapter 22

Andrea

The first breath I took burned and sent pain splintering throughout my chest and ribs It hurt in a way that i eyes open I winced at the harsh overhead lights in the drop ceiling I tried to lift hed doith lead

Sit up I needed to sit up, but as soon as I started that process, a sharp stabbing sensation shot acrossme to exhale harshly Okay I would not move

A shadow moved closer to the bed, and as I blinked, a for over rooved into the skin under his eyes Taut lines formed around his ers through it many times He hadn’t shaved When was the last time I’d seen him unshaven? Goodness, it had to be back when he still…he still drank