Page 11 of Don't Let Go

As we loaded her car and got inside, she gave me a faint smile before backing out of the carport. “How’s Paolo?’

I flinched as if she slapped me. Mamma didn’t like that I agreed to go out with Paolo, and I wished I had taken her advice. Everyone saw how bad a guy he was, but I didn’t until it wastoo late. “He’s fine.” I licked my lips. “He wants me to go to a wedding in Hawaii for his cousin.”

Mamma clicked her tongue and looked into the rearview mirror, checking no one had spotted us. “Do you want to go?” There was a sharp tone in her voice; she wanted to protest.

I picked at my chipped nail polish. I knew cleaning would ruin my pretty nails. “No. It would be too awkward. Besides, I’m needed here.”

“Oh, fiore mio,” she said, squeezing my thigh. I let out a cry before I could stop it. She touched my bruise.

“What’s wrong?” She glanced at me while slowing for a stop sign.

“Nothing.” I flipped my hair over my left shoulder to shield my face. Mamma studied me—she knew something was amiss. “There’s my car. I’ll order and pick up the pizza. See you at home.” I opened my door before she came to a complete stop.

“See you soon,” Mamma said, sounding tired. She knew what my wince meant and who did it. She also knew there was nothing that could be done.

She waved as she drove past me. I sank in my seat, taking a moment to collect myself before opening the pizza app and ordering.

I was in over my head, and at this point, I think I was too far out to sea for anyone to save me.

5

Tyler

Silence.

Complete and utter silence surrounded me. It deafened me.

Nurses and doctors buzzed around as I stood in the hallway, dumbfounded.

“Can you please say that again? But slower?” I felt like a fool. No, my ears were full of cotton, and no longer heard correctly. Maybe it was because I’d been here all damn night. I honestly lost the concept of time when my phone died.

The doctor had nothing but pity as he looked from me to the chart in his hands. “I’m sorry. Your father stopped breathing. The heart attack was massive and threw a clot into his brain.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I don’t understand. He was fine earlier.”

The doctor put his hand on my shoulder. “He was poisoned by ingesting tetrodotoxin, also known as eating ill-prepared blowfish.” He paused for a moment, squeezing my shoulder. “We did everything we could for your father.”

I nodded, still not fully grasping what those words meant.

“Do you want us to call someone for you?” the doctor asked.

I might’ve been dazed because I somehow moved a good yard away from him.

“No.” I paused, not remembering how to talk. “Just need to… sit down… for a bit.”

The doctor nodded, guiding me to a nearby chair in the waiting room. Then he left. Maybe his next patient would live.

That doctor had a name, but hell if I remembered it. My body wouldn’t stop trembling.

My dad’s gone? Really? Truly?

How? Why?

Where does that leave me?

I leaned forward, placing my head between my knees to make the world stop spinning. Suddenly, the waiting room became a nauseating fair ride, and I wanted off, but it was too out of control.

I couldn’t breathe. I sat up, making my vision swim.

---