Page 17 of Reaching Hearts

Chapter Ten

Annie

3rd Floor Corridor.

Have them both, she says. I wish I could. Smiling to myself, I step quickly across the cold, hard tile about to pass Room 321 when the door to 323 opens. Shit! It’s Mrs. Wells with her head in her phone. Pulling quietly on the rolling IV pole, I duck into Room 321. This time I’m ready to see a person inhabiting the bed – a stranger I’ll have to explain myself to. I brace myself for the inevitable and look over, my mouth open and about to speak. The bed is empty. I stare at it, relieved and trying to catch my breath. With one hand on the pole and the other on my racing heart, I rest on the door to gather myself together.

She was in his room. Of course she was. If it were me, I would never leave his side. I wouldn’t let him sleep alone a night in this cold, unfriendly place. Not knocking the nurses. Maria was great, but they only pop in and out, staying for half a second. That’s not enough. A person needs more.

I push on the door and peek out to the left. She’s all the way down and turns to the elevators, out of sight. A little past my room, the nurse’s desk has grown to a number of five. None of them are looking for the escapee, so I steal out of Room 321 and walk to see Brendan in the flesh for the first time, alone.

No girlfriend. No gunman. Just us.

I hope he wants to see me.

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