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I waited until the sun dipped low in the sky and the lights began to pop on in the houses Rosa never came out Finally I knocked on the door No one ca I wanted to set to the on Rosa could be lying I couldn’t just snatch the kid
I didn’t have any choices here
I had to walk away
The thud of my boots on the hollow stairs echoed on the quiet street as I stoine was tre off the stucco facades and down the lane I turned the bike around and headed back the way I caet it all Pretend it never happened
15: Gavin
The hospital corridors were quiet, the visitors either gone for the day or settled in for the night I hesitated at the end of Corabelle’s hall, bracing myself for another confrontation with her father I’d texted her a dozen ti over every few miles, but I hadn’t heard back For all I knew, her father had taken her phone
The door to 425 was ajar I knocked and stepped inside, but the bed was stripped, the flowers gone Had they sent her hoet a set from her complex office I rushed back down the hall to leave, but when I passed the nurse station, I decided to ed rather than one?"
An unfamiliar nurse looked up "And who are you?"
I hesitated "Her brother I was supposed to bring her clothes when she got out, but I guess she already went home?"
The nurse clicked on a keyboard "No, she was lanced up at me "But you won’t be able to visit her there That floor has strict visiting hours"
Panic coursed through me "Did she relapse?"
She put on a sympathetic face "Maybe you should talk to your parents about it"
"Where is it?"
"It’s the second floor"
I took off down the hall
"You can’t get in there after hours!" she called out
Like hell I couldn’t
I lunged into a stairwell and raced doo floors When I flung open the door, I was greeted with a long desk flanked by entrances that required badge access A hallway opposite the desk went to the elevators and the hospital’s center atrium
A lone staff member behind the counter held a phone between her cheek and shoulder, facing away from me I backed into the stairwell and left the door open a crack I could watch froo in Maybe if soain