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As , I also refused to be some kind of creepy stalker cliche Besides which, I knew I should really be focusing onof my fake relationship No matter how much I would have liked it to be real

Part of me kneould continue to do whatever it took to make her mine for real

But not yet

Maybe she was right– as she had so often been in the past– and that space was best for both of us

I really had to deal with the issues that were confronting me

I couldn’t run anymore

“Everything okay?” Eoin askedface

“Yeah Well, kind of Let’s go, little brother We have a flight to catch”

Chapter Fifteen – Gavin

The hospital was as depressing as it hen I’d been in there withThe NHS had really i, the place was a bit too sterile, not in the sense of cleanliness but overall

Everything from the uniforms down to the wallpaper was devoid of any color or life It was all done with a machine efficiency that was functional and effective, but not the sort of place you would want to spend a lot of tih that could have partly been the point

The doctor was pleasant enough Her skirt suit ue air of a super-villain Her dark brown skin kept her fro washed out

“It’s a staph infection,” she explained as I looked through the glass partition and into my dad’s hospital room “His immune system was already compromised, which left him even more vulnerable”

“What are his chances?” I asked, more worried than I’d been in a while

Eoin had been right, and I was glad he had co his calls, but I really had thought I was doing the right thing At least I was here now, I reasoned, so as not to hate myself

“Not sure, honestly Though we can’t do anything without inforn, so it will need to be you Without it, he will definitely die”

“Right then,” I said, taking the clipboard she was holding and signing on the spot indicated

“Oh, okay,” the doctor said, clearly surprised by my enthusiasm

Eoin had apparently filled her in on my prior reluctance to come help

“Do whatever’s needed,” I said, handing her back the clipboard

That done, I went out to where Eoin aiting He looked worried and scared, which seemed to be his default state nowadays, the poor kid