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I was in ICU for twenty-four hours before they transferredto be thankful for, it would be for not dying and not having to experience the withdrawals awake Since I OD’ed and technically died for a split-second, I had to have a sitter with me twenty-four/seven It was hospital protocol, to make sure I wasn’t suicidal I was mostly in and out of consciousness for the h to where I barely felt any discomfort, just exhaustion

I dreas mostly, except she wasn’t how I remembered her

My girl

She looked like the wo him, as if I never existed Even in my dreams I was still haunted, tormented by the truth of my reality

By the third day they allowed immediate family to visit with me My parents were beyond disappointed and furious but relieved that I was still alive I immediately admitted that I needed help that I couldn’t do this onfor the first time that I couldn’t do it alone I needed my family, and my friends The people that loved me, to help in my recovery

I didn’t want to die, again That was never my intention in the first place I just didn’t want to feel pain anyh for me to come to terms with the fact that if I continued this lifestyle, I would end up being a part of a godda story

My parents set me up with the best rehab facility in North Carolina,to be intense and I would be transferred into it in the next few days It would become my new home for the next six months My parents didn’t ask many questions, but I kneas only awas laid out on the table

My deht

Over the last two days, they allowed the boys and Alex to visit They were on the sa relieved that I was still here and had a second chance at life I hadn’t asked for Briggs I knehated me My mom told me she was the one that found me and she was the reason I was alive

She saved my life

Again

The last thing I ree would be forever ingrained in my mind Burned into my soul

My mistakes My choices My weaknesses

Cost me the love of my life

She unknowingly slipped throughher move on was my rock bottom

She was now the one that got away

It was the last day of ed to the rehab facility I would be lying if I said I wasn’t scared ofit had in store for me

A life without Briggs

I shuta hts

“I love you, Daisy I’ll always love you No matter what”

She smiled “I know I’m yours”

I i her presence There she was, standing by the open door, her dark brown hair flowing all around her face She was a sight for sore eyes, wearing jeans with a sweater and her favorite tattered Chucks She looked so tired like she hadn’t slept in days Once again I was the reason for her discomfort and pain Dark circles were prominent under her swollen eyes

She was still so fucking beautiful

Beautifully broken

“Hey,” she announced, barely above a whisper

I smiled I couldn’t help it “Hey,” I rasped

We both stared at each other, lost in our own thoughts I looked over atexpression I couldn’t be left alone They even had ca my everyevery private conversation I silently prayed she would grant my request this one time

She s

“You’re Briggs?” she stated, raising her eyebrows

“Yes”

“He owes you his life, young lady” She nodded toward me

“In a way, I owe his said out of nowhere, bringing my attention back to her

“You have twentyright outside that door No funny business, okay?”

I held up three fingers “Scouts honor”

She left, closing the door behind her Briggs didn’tto hold her was as powerful as the craving to use had been

Both were deadly for me

“Your hair,” I coaxed, nodding to her, breaking the silence between us

She s down at them

“Yeah,” she si any further

Aard silence filled the space between us

“You still have your tattoos, right?” I chuckled

She nodded never breaking eye contact, finally asking, “So, how do you feel?” Like she’d been waiting to ask since she found me in the warehouse

I shrugged “Like shit Which is better than I deserve You’re looking at s”

She shook her head, looking down at the ground I i

“You weren’t breathing, Austin I couldn’t feel your heart, your pulse You died right in front ofas if she was reliving it all over again in her mind

“Are you okay?” I asked, pulling her away frohts

She eyed me cautiously “I was I think I don’t even know anymore” She pushed off the wall and walked over to sit in the chair by the side ofto be okay I had every intention of not co back But my mind has stayed with your unconscious body in the warehouse, Austin I see you lying there on that filthy floor, unresponsive every time I close ht I keep thinking that if Dylan hadn’t called me first, I wouldn’t have answered your call Or what if I hadn’t been in Oak Island when I answered you You would have died My therapist—”

“Therapist?” I frowned

“I’ve been seeing her since I left you She’s been helpingMy childhood, uess She told me that I was the one that ran away from you I would never be able to move on until we had closure or soed my phone number even after she toldto happen Subconsciously, I had been waiting for it,” she paused to let her words sink in

Peering around the roole in her mind She didn’t have to tell me what she was about to say I knew it fro in front of me

I said it for her instead, “You’re here to say goodbye”

Briggs

We locked eyes

Seeing each other's truths for the first time in two and a half years

“Yes” I nodded “I can’t run away froain It almost killed me as much as it did you, the last time I need to say my peace and walk away this time”

“I’ to rehab touess both of us have so the cup of water on his bedside table and taking a drink

I didn't falter “Why are you going to rehab?”

He narrowed his eyes at me, confused

“Is it for your parents? Your friends? Me? At the end of the day you need to go there for you, A

ustin Your recovery, your sobriety It needs to be so that you want, not what everyone else wants for you If you don’t want it, if your head isn't in the right place, all you’re doing is wasting everyone’s tiest probleot better for me, for us Never for you As h, it wasn’t It never was I can’t want it for you Your parents and friends can't want it for you No one can You have to want it for yourself”

He took in every single word that ca intently I could see it in his eyes, he kneas right, and that gave me hope for him

“I saw you”

I loweredwhat he was talking about

“With Esteban”