Page 72 of Bears Not Included

And then the face I see is... Faith. She’s hooked up to a multitude of machines. She’s bandaged almost everywhere. Her face is still swollen and distorted, but she’s breathing.

Faith…

I rush to her and record every breath she takes. I take her hand so carefully and bring it to my cheek, and then I kiss her fingers, which are warmer than my ice-cold ones.

She’s alive, and I don’t care about anything else. She’s breathing, and she’s with me, and nothing will ever happen to her again. That’s all that matters. She’s here, and I’m going to die making sure she’s okay.

Veronica brings me a chair, and I don’t let go of Faith’s hand as I sit down beside her.

“Faith,” I whisper. “I love you, and nothing will ever happen to you again. I promise.”

A teardrop falls onto her hand from my cheek. I hold my breath as she stirs and then moans. I can’t imagine her pain. I want someone to help her.

“It’s all right, Mrs. Ursid,” a familiar-looking doctor says. “Doctor Sandland,” he says as a way of introduction. He was Bianca Walsh’s—Deacon’s sister's—doctor.

“She’s heavily sedated, and we’re making sure her pain levels are not too high.”

I don’t ask the question of whether she’s going to be okay. I don’t want to tempt my universe into doing the opposite. I know she’s going to be okay. I’m never leaving her sight. When she’s fully recovered, we’re both getting out of here. She always wanted to go to California. She hated the cold winter months here. That’s what we’ll do. We’ll forget everything that happened here and start all over again.

“She’s going to be okay, Mrs. Ursid. You have my word. Besides, I think Deacon will truly maim me this time if I let anything happen to Faith, whether he and I are friends or not,” he smiles awkwardly as if he wants to take back his joke. “She’ll heal in time.”

Oh, my god. And that’s when I truly break down, unashamedly. I’m aware of Veronica sending the medical staff out and leaving me alone with Faith.

“Faith, I’m so sorry. It was all my fault. It should have never happened to you. It was supposed to be me. Please forgive me. Faith, please, please forgive me. Forgive me for doing this to you. I’m so sorry.” My words will never be enough. And Faith should never forgive me for this.

It should have been me.

But I can’t undo what has already happened.

I don’t know how we’re going to get through this. How can she forget what he did to her? No matter how hard I try to take her memories as my own so she doesn’t have to suffer through them, she’ll still remember.

My thoughts go around in circles until I find that middle ground again. She’s here with me. She’s breathing. She’s alive. We’ll make it.

Many more hours go by, and I refuse to leave her side. The doctors and nurses come back inside to administer more medications to her, and I only take a few steps away from her, too terrified not to have her in my sight.

Veronica insists I eat something, telling me I need my strength if I want to help Faith make a full recovery. I nibble on a small bit of a sandwich while I sit beside her.

The sun starts to set in the sky and casts an orange haze over her face, making her look like an angel. For the first time, my heart soars with pure, genuine hope. She’s going to be okay.

“Darling child. I was told to let you have as much time as you need with Faith, but there’s something else I think you should see,” Veronica says quietly. She’s standing behind me with her hand on my shoulder.

“Faith is safe. You can trust me when I say that. But I want you to come with me.”

I’m not leaving Faith. I refuse.

“Livia, come with me. There is one more thing you need to see.” Veronica’s tone is forceful. She reaches for my hand and pulls me up. “I will bring you back here as soon as you’re done.”

My brows knit together as reality starts to stream into my consciousness. How did Faith get here? The answer is painfully obvious.

Kirill Yenin.

I close my eyes and envision what must have happened. Did Kirill Yenin toss Faith’s body like a piece of trash on the doorstep of the Ursid mansion as a message to them and me?

My chin quivers, and I realize I am very capable of killing another human being if that human being is Kirill Yenin.

“Come, Livia. I will bring you back here immediately after. I’ve never lied to you.”

I don’t know what else Veronica could show me but she’s adamant I go with her.

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