Page 70 of Mended Hearts

“Yeah, DFF, baby.” I look at him and cock a brow. “Down. For. Food.” He clarifies.

As we walk to the door, I look down the hall. Echo’s dad stands outside of the room, and I wonder how long it’s been since they’ve seen each other. Just as I go to turn away, the door opens.

“Dad.” Echo cries, throwing her arms around him.

Through the cries, I hear him say, “I’m so sorry, baby girl.”

I’d never wish the reason we’re gathered at the hospital on anyone, but I’m glad to see healing is able to come from it—in this circumstance.

MOST OF THE day has now passed and I contemplate leaving—especially since that’s the only way I’m going to convince Dax to leave. Brian’s mother arrived a little while ago, and I have yet to see Echo again since her glorious entrance.

I tell myself I’m staying because of my duty, but the truth is, I can’t leave her.

“I’m going to go find a vending machine.” I look over to see Dax asleep with his head leaning against the wall. I pass a couple different machines before I find one with peanut M&M’s. I buy two packages and make my way back to my seat. I turn the corner, almost running right into Echo.

“Hey. I’ve been looking for you,” she says, leaning back on the balls of her feet as her hand plays with the string of her hoodie. “I’m sorry.” Her hand reaches out and rests on my forearm as her gaze finally finds mine and holds it. “When you took off last night, I feared the worse.”

“You had every right to,” I confirm.

“When you called, I thought you hurt him.”

“Echo, I don’t want to stand here and play Good Samaritan. After you showed up last night, I wanted to end Brian’s life. I didn’t want him to have the opportunity to ever hurt you again.” I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “But he robbed me of it.” I let out a laugh, feeling somewhat maniacal due to the lack of sleep. “I wanted to kill him, but he beat me to it.” Tears begin to spill from my eyes.

Echo grabs my hand, holding it between us as I continue.

“I just keep playing the scene over and over. I walked up to the door and banged on it. The house was brightly lit and the TV was playing loud. That’s when I looked in the window. My heart dropped, and I called nine-one-one as survival mode took over. I kicked the door in and ran to his side, checked for a pulse. It was faint. I jammed two fingers down his throat, praying his body would do its job and vomit up some of what he ingested.”

Echo throws her arms around me, holding me as I relive the horrible moment. One arm rubs my back while the other wraps around the nape of my neck.

“All I could think was I had to save him for you. I couldn’t let him die.” I whisper

“But why?” She pulls back, placing both hands on the sides of my face. Her fingers play with my unkempt beard as she searches my eyes.

“Because I couldn’t chance you having to live with that kind of burden.”

She nods in understanding, spilling fresh tears. “You did that for me?”

“Everything I do is for you.”

“YOU GET LOST, bro?” Dax asks as I take a seat.

“Yeah,” I say, tossing the extra bag of M&M’s on his lap.

“Best brother ever,” he whispers. I laugh, thinking about how he truly is the best brother ever. His lightheartedness brings a light into this world that we all so desperately need.

Echo walks over to us, standing in front of me, and Dax begins smarting off.

“I never doubted my brother,” he says matter-of-factly like I’m incapable of causing harm in his eyes.

“Not even a little bit?” She lifts her hand, holding her thumb and pointer finger close together, scrunching her face.

“Okay, maybe.” Dax shrugs.

I slap his chest and Echo laughs.

Her parents come out from down the hall and tell her she’s needed. She glances at me and then back at the hallway and I can tell she’s torn. I grab her hand and squeeze. She looks down at my hand around hers and then her eyes drift up to mine and all I want to do is get lost in them.

“Hey, it’s okay. Go.” A twinge of pain stabs my chest, realizing those are the last words I told her the last time I had seen her.

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