Page 120 of Broken Bonds

I refused to hear a word of it.

I had been urged to leave Ace’s room for a few days to take a walk or even sit outside, but I refused. I didn’t want to be anywhere without him. We already missed so much time, and now, he was slowly leaving meagain.

Another two weeks passed, and finally, the cast came off my foot, replaced with a boot to give me support while I learned how to properly walk again. Thankfully, my physical therapist worked from the hospital, so I didn’t have to stray too far from Ace—not that he would notice anyhow.

His wounds had slowly healed, as had mine. Aside from a slight limp in my big black boot, I looked normal, like my boyfriend hadn’t tried to kill me. Julian crossed my mind every day. He was sentenced to five years for domestic violence a few weeks ago with me testifying via video, but the unease in my bones never settled. I constantly looked over my shoulder, waiting for him to come finish what he started.

Panic and fear consumed my mind at night, so I didn’t sleep often. Closing my eyes meant letting the demons in, and I was not strong enough to fight them alone—not anymore. Aidan and Julian taunted my mind at night, both reminding me of what I was losing with Ace slowly slipping away from me.

Two months passed when Ace’s doctor came to me and suggested calling Ryan home to make a final decision about Ace, to let him move on peacefully. I ignored the doctor and screamed bloody murder until he left the room. Security returned within minutes, promising to escort me out if I ever raised my voice at the doctor again.

“Do you want me to let you go?” I whispered to the ceiling, hearing the soft sound of the machine breathing for Ace. Eachsound cracked my heart, reminding me that the Ace I had come to love wasn’t lying there on that bed.

He wasn’t here anymore. He left a long time ago.It was time to let him go.

Dropping my head to the bed near his cold hand, the first tear slid down my face. “I’m not ready to say goodbye, Ace.” Crying into his lifeless hand, my chest ached. My soul cried out for him. I couldn’t do this. “Please don’t make me do this; don’t leave me. I need you.”

Amber came into the room sometime later, resting her hand on my shoulder. “Come on; let’s go for a walk. You need to get out of this room.”

Shaking my head, I looked at her through blurry eyes. “I don’t want to leave him; I’m not ready.” There was understanding in her green eyes, but she still tugged on my arm.

“Come on; he’ll still be here when you come back. He wouldn’t approve of you sitting here for two months. You’re missing out on life, honey. What about college?”

“You don’t understand, Amber.” I shook my head. “I don’t want to live without him in my life. I can’t think straight, and my heart is screaming in pain.” Clutching at my chest, I looked at her with desperate eyes.

I need her to understand.

“Five minutes.” She extended her hand out to me, and after a moment of hesitation, I let her pull me out of the chair.

We slowly walked through the hallway, among the hustle and bustle of the hospital staff all rushing to the next patient. Laughter came from two nurses we walked past, both sipping on coffee cups. I shrunk back into Amber’s arm that was wrapped around my shoulder. It didn’t feel right to see people laughing, smiling, living while Ace was lifeless. It wasn’t fair.

“I can’t do this. I want to go back now.” She faltered but with one look at my face, she reluctantly turned. In the room, Islumped back into the chair at his bedside, grabbing his hand as I stared at his face.

I had memorized his closed lids, thick eyebrows, full lips, and sharp jawline by now. Could probably draw it from memory, and I didn’t have a single bit of artistic talent in my body. I would, at least, forever have him etched into my mind if he didn’t wake up.

Amber’s voice cut through the deadly silence. “It’s been two months, Celine.”

“I can’t just move on when he’s like this.” Tearing my gaze from him, I stared at her, seeing all my pain reflected in her eyes.

“He wouldn’t want this for you. You have to know that.” She crossed her arms as she sank into the couch against the wall, her eyes darting between Ace and me.

“It isn’t fair. Everyone out there,” I pointed to the closed door, tears blurring my vision, “is laughing and living while he’s barely alive!” I screamed. “It isn’t fair!”

“I know it isn’t.” Her voice was thick with sadness and pain, her eyes glistening. “You’re going to need to say goodbye, Celine.”

I shook my head. “He’s going to wake up. He promised!”

“Ryan is flying in tomorrow,” she told me sadly.

Panic clawed at my throat. “Why?” I demanded, my voice cracking. “Why the fuck is my brother coming home again, Amber?”

“The doctor called him and suggested that we let Ace go.”

“No!” I shouted at her. “Ace promised he wouldn’t leave me! He promised I wouldn’t be alone. He promised me he wasn’t Aidan!” My screams bounced off the walls, hurting my ears, but the sound that followed was from a broken girl.

Nurses rushed into the room to assess the situation, and the doctor followed behind closely, eyes on me as screams of agony tore from my throat. “You can’t end his life! You can’t take him away from me!” I shouted at the doctor.

“Sedate her!” he demanded over the chaos. Amber’s red, tear-streaked face was the last thing I remembered as darkness clouded my vision.

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