Page 118 of Spark

That was the first time she had ever said his full name to anyone. The nurse nodded, typing on the computer.

“Yes, oh,” he said, grimacing slightly. “He has been taken into surgery. The bullet is still lodged in his abdomen.”

“Bullet!” Mia cried, realizing only now the severity of his injury. “Oh my god!”

“Ma’am,” the nurse said, reaching out to place a hand on hers. “He will be in surgery for a little while. Our waiting area is very full tonight.” Mia’s tears became uncontrollable.

“What should I do?” she asked, wanting to hide, to disappear and escape the pain.

“I suggest you go home, change, and take a shower. We will call you when he’s out of surgery.” Mia nodded silently, not having a better idea.

“Oh—okay,” she said slowly. “But if I wanted to stay...?”

The nurse gave her a quick once-over, and she realized she had no idea how she looked.

“Ma’am, you have blood all over you, and you’re not wearing any shoes,” he said quietly, leaning closer. “He will be a few hours, but according to his chart, his vitals are good. I recommend taking the time to get cleaned up and then coming back.” Mia felt slightly reassured. She knew he would fight; she knew he would be okay. She nodded again and turned to leave.

“Ma’am?” the nurse called her back. “Your number?” She sighed and shook her head, quickly providing her name and number as he typed it into the computer.

“I put you down as next of kin, so you’ll get the call first, okay?” the nurse said, and Mia nodded again. She moved through the sliding doors and to her car, the door still open, the key in the ignition.

The drive to her loft was a blur. She didn’t even register where she was until she stood in front of her door, blood pooled in the entryway. Stepping over it, her toes clammy against the cold floor, she looked around in the morning light, the overhead light still blaring. The blood trailed along the floor to where she had sat him on the couch, more soaked into the fabric. The scene replayed in her mind: Aurelio bleeding, dragging himself across the floor to the couch. She could see the moment he had passed out. Wiping her tears, Mia turned to the bathroom.

In the silence around her, she showered, taking a moment to look at the clothes she had worn—the blood darkening her white T-shirt. Afterward, she stepped out of the bathroom,feeling exposed and raw as she walked to her dresser. She pulled on her underwear and snapped a bra into place, the motions feeling unnatural. She felt out of place, as if she had been pushed out of the normal flow of time and now didn’t know how to function. Her mind was blank yet filled with images. Her hands slid a shirt over her head; she didn’t even know which one she had grabbed, but it felt snug against her torso. She slipped on a pair of jeans and grabbed her knee-high boots. As she moved toward the door, she reached for her leather jacket, sliding it on. She looked for her phone, spotting it on the island by the door.

Mia moved to grab the phone as a knock sounded at her door. Before she could register, she heard Matty’s voice cry out “What the fuck?!”

She moved quickly, sliding the door open and seeing her brother there. Throwing her arms around him she felt a sob rack through her.

“Mia!” Matty cried into her hair as she wept. He held her tightly, his reassuring figure keeping her grounded. He pulled back as she took a moment and wiped her face. She looked at the hallway, blood, mostly dried now, pooled at the door and across the hallway. She hadn’t noticed it earlier.

“What happened?” Matty asked, her eyes scanning her as she pulled him into her loft. As coherently as she could, she told him the events, explaining as much as she could.

“But now, I need to head back.” She said, scanning for her phone once more.

“Wait, hold on.” Matty said, watching as she gripped her phone and looked back to him. “Aurelio is in the hospital, all that blood out there and in here.” He pointed to the pooled blood inside. “Is his?” Mia nodded and moved to the door.

“But I cant stay here and wait.” She said, hand on the door. “I’m going to back and wait to hear…” she paused as her phone began to vibrate in her hand. She looked down to see a message from Aurelio. Her eyes watered as she slid the phone open and read the lines:

Hey beautiful.

Thank you for saving my life.

But I have to finish this for good.

Turning myself in;cops are on their way.

I love you.

“What?” she said, Matty standing straighter, heading to her side.

“Mia?” He asked, concern rising in his voice.

Mia, ignoring Matty, clicked Aurelio’s number, but it rang twice before going to voicemail. She hung up and called again—still voicemail.

“UGH!” she cried out, a tear rolling down her cheek. Just then, her phone chimed again.

I can’t hear your voice.

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