Page 219 of A Love Like Venom

As he goes to leave I call after him. He stops in his tracks and looks back at me. “Thank you for looking after him while I couldn’t. I’m glad that you were by his side.”

I watch as he blinks back his tears. “Anytime.” Then he turns on his heel and leaves us behind.

I feel Grace behind me. With her hands on my shoulders she leans down and says, “If there is any chance of him getting better it’s because he feels your presence in here. I’ll give you time alone with him.” She places a kiss to the top of my head before leaving.

Now it’s only the two of us.

And in the confines of this hospital room with the love of my life barely hanging on I finally let go of everything inside of me.

All the pain and anger. All the sorrow and heartache. The loneliness I feel inside. The dread that sits at the pit of my stomach. I let it all out.

After what feels like centuries I allow the last tear to fall. It lands on his hand and I gently press my lips to his battered skin.

“You have to wake up, Reed,” I beg of him. “Please, you have to wake up. I can’t imagine my life without you.”

Because if he dies what’s the point in me living?

Alice

Everything happened in a blur.

A weird time fluctuation where one can't tell if time has gone by too fast or has gone by excruciatingly slow.

My time speaking to both Detective Higgins and Shaw was short lived. Time with them was practically nonexistent. They began to question me and in turn they also questioned me about Reed.

If they thought for one split second that I was going to willingly admit that I watched Reed kill countless men in cold blood they were wrong. They had a better chance of waiting for cold water in Hell.

My lips remained sealed. And as they begun to question me, inferring that I was an accomplice, that lawyer Sheriff Crow spoke highly of entered the room.

He was younger than I expected but he had the confidence and arrogance of a man who had been a lawyer his entire life. His pristine designer suit screamed money, his words were cutthroat and his smirk scarily charming. The man exuded power. And he wasn't afraid to show it.

The detectives left after meeting him and never returned.

I also think Sheriff Crow had a huge part in that, too. Because according to Grace both Higgins and Shaw haven't stepped foot back in Hollows Point. The only time they did was to offer their resignations.

Curious by nature I asked Sheriff Crow if he had anything to do with the sudden resignations. His answer was a smile on his face followed by him telling me,it was about damn time that it had happened.

After that exchange I hadn't questioned him further. I knew he had a hand in it and to be frank I didn't really care about knowing the details how. Honestly, I was just relieved that the case closed.

I thanked him again and of course he thought that it was unnecessary. I even insisted on doing something for him for what he had done for Reed and me. Who knows the trouble we would be facing if it wasn't for him and his swanky lawyer, Mr. Sutter.

Seeing that I wasn't going to give up on the matter he told me he'd love for dinner once Reed wakes and becomes better.

And that is where time is going by excruciatingly slow.

Everyday that Reed doesn't wake up feels like a millennium.

The entire time I stay by his side with his bandaged hand in mine.

I talk to him.

God, do I talk to him.

I talk to him about anything, even the most mundane things. I tell him how the hospital offers the worst food I have ever had. I joke that he should be glad he is unconscious so he doesn't have to taste it. I tell him how everyone is doing. How they are all praying for him.

The words I tell him the most are of how much I love him.

I talk to him until I'm blue in the face. Until he steals all my oxygen.

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