Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
“Yeah.” He clears his throat.
“Is everything all right?” I ask as worry fills the pit of my stomach.
“Yeah... no.”
I listen to him take a deep breath, and my body coils tight like the universe is telling me that whatever he’s about to say is going to turn my world upside down.
“Is Bre okay?” I question when he doesn’t say more.
“I’m dying, man.” As his words register, my breath leaves on a silent whoosh and my stomach turns. “I’ve got a couple months at best. The doctors don’t have an exact time period, obviously, but it’s inevitable.”
“Jesus, I’m so fucking sorry,” I whisper, looking into the dark water at the edge of my boat.
“Yeah,” he murmurs back, and I grab the back of my neck, holding tight. “I need a favor.”
“Anything,” I reply, instantly squeezing my eyes closed.
“When I’m gone, look after Aubrey for me.”
Fuck.
“She loves you, and I know you feel the same about her.” His statement feels like a knife to the chest.
Fuck.
“Gabe—”
“She and I have had a good run,” he says quietly, and I squeeze my neck tighter, trying to cut off the pain his words are causing, that knife in my chest twisting deeper. “I’ve always known she was meant to be yours.”
“Gabe,” I repeat, having not one goddamn clue what to say to him.
“Just promise you’ll look after her.”
Hearing the defeat in his tone and feeling my throat close up, it takes every ounce of willpower I have to push out two words. “I will.” As soon as my answer takes flight on the wind, the phone goes dead in my hand.
“Fuck.” I lean my head back and look up at the night sky just in time to catch a star shoot across the dark. I don’t even think as I close my eyes and make a wish.
I have no idea that hundreds of miles away, someone else is making a wish on that same exact star.
_______________
Aubrey
One month later
I lean against my kitchen counter and watch my dad tie up the garbage to take it out, trying to remember when the last time was I took out the trash myself. It’s been a long time, too long. I probably should have taken it out every now and then over the last few years. Then again, I probably should have done a lot of stuff I didn’t do over the last few years.
“Honey.” Shelby’s hand on my arm brings me out of my head and I focus on her worried face. “I was thinking I’d stay with you tonight. We can watch a movie or jus—”
“Maybe tomorrow,” I cut her off, and her hand on my arm spasms. “Sorry.” I blow out a long breath. “I’m just tired. All I want to do is take a shower and go to sleep.” Sleep forever, sleep until I wake up and don’t hurt anymore.
“I don’t think you should be alone, not after today.” She doesn’t say why. She doesn’t have to. Today, I spread my husband’s ashes out at sea, something his family asked me to do. Something I really didn’t want to do but did anyways, because they wanted me to.
“I need to be alone, since...” I swallow over what feels like shards of glass in my throat and push through the pain of the words I don’t want to say. “Since Gabe… since...” I try to say it, but I can’t. “Since then, I haven’t been alone. I really want some time alone. I really need some time alone.” I feel like I’m suffocating, there have been so many people in and out of my house the last few days, everyone constantly hovering over me, asking what I need, if I’m okay. I know everyone means well, but it’s too much.
“Okay, gorgeous,” she whispers, sliding my hair over my shoulder.
“Thank you.” I roll my lips together. “Thank you f-for—” Tears spring to my eyes and I try—I try with everything in me to fight them back, but it doesn’t work. “Just… thanks.”
“Shhh.” Her arms wrap around me and I tuck my face into the crook of her neck. I don’t want to cry anymore. I don’t think I should be able to cry anymore. I have no idea how my body is still capable of producing tears after the buckets I’ve cried. “It will be okay. I promise it will get easier.” She rubs my back.
“Get rid of everyone, baby. I’ve got her,” Dad says as I’m transferred into his arms, and his familiar scent comforts me.
“Sure,” Shelby whispers.
“Thanks, baby,” Dad replies. I rest the side of my face against his chest and hold on to his waist, squeezing my eyes closed. “If I could take this pain from you, gorgeous, I would.”
“I’ll be okay,” I try to reassure him, because I know he’s worried about me. I know he thinks I’m going to break at any moment. His hand cups the back of my head, and his lips touch the top of my hair and stay there while I listen to Shelby in the living room tell everyone it’s time to go. “I should probably tell everyone thank you for coming over.” I try to pull away.