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Tears clouded her eyes as she stared down at her friend Mary's face was covered in bruises and cuts Both of her legs were broken Patty had said that her friend had also suffered a concussion, two broken ribs, and a crushed pelvis Her left lung had been punctured By the tiun to fill with fluid

Mary had lost a lot of blood Too much The doctors had frantically pumped the precious liquid back into her body It was truly a miracle that she was still alive Unfortunately, the doctors weren't sure just how er she would be able to hold on

Savannah cradled Mary's hand, her fingers rubbing lightly over its back “Mary, it's Savannah” She sed, trying to clear the lump from her throat “Can you hear me?»

There was no response The machines continued to beep The liquids continued to feed into Mary's body

«Please, Mary You've got to fight You can't leave yet You just can't” But as she gazed at Mary's pale, still face, she was desperately afraid that Mary would, indeed, leave her soon

Her fingers tightened around Mary's “How many times did you hold my hand when I was in a hospital bed? How ive up? Do you re ht»

Tears filled her eyes “Well, now I'ht, Mary You have to live!»

Did Mary's lashes flicker faintly? Savannah continued talking, her voice feverish with intensity “You can hear me, can't you, Mary? I know you can Stay with me, Mary Stay with me! I know you're tired and that you hurt, and all you want to do is to slip away and let the pain stop I know, because I've been there I just wanted to closeI wanted to live And you want to live, too I know you do You want to get married Have kids Cute little kids that you can teach to hack coo to Spain You want to run with the bulls You want to do so »

She felt Mary's fingers jerk against her

Savannah leaned forward, hope lighting her face “Mary?»

And then she saw them Two tiny holes on the left side of Mary's throat Barely visible, they would have gone unnoticed by most people

But Savannah had similar marks on her own neck She knehat those h her “Dear God,” she whispered, her face full of horror It hadn't been an accident There was no way it could have been Not with those marks Geoffrey had done this; he had attacked Mary

Mary's lashes lifted She ht, Mary I'an to thrash in the bed, her ar to jerk free of the restraints that held her

Her IV flew across the roo to hurt yourself!” Savannah frantically pressed the call button

Mary's lips treed from her lips

Patty ran into the roo Mary's arled against the confineroan slipped past her lips

«You've got to leave,” Patty said while pushing the call button and de Her head thrashed

«Calm down,” Patty told her “You're safe You were in an accident, but we're taking care of you now Everything is going to be all right, Ms Todd” She began to insert another intravenous needle into the back of Mary's hand

Savannah took a step back froray hair and horn-rilasses, appeared at the door He took a quick look, instantly assessing the situation

«Morphine, now,” he ordered

A nurse hurried in fro needle in her hand

«D-d-d-d—” Mary's teeth clenched and frustration flashed across her face