Page 155 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

I can’t help but wonder just how aware she is of what’s happening around her. Is blinking the only way she can communicate anymore?

TJ scoffs. “I know exactly what you would say. You’d tell me that’s no excuse, and we’re never too busy for the people we love.”

I focus on the rise and fall of her chest as she breathes.

God, I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been for TJ and Kelsea. Having to watch the woman who raised you look right through you.

Seeing her in that wheelchair, knowing her mind is somewhere you can’t reach anymore. And her physical form isall you have left of the woman you’ve looked up to your whole life.

“Speaking of people we love, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

A knot of emotions tightens in my throat.

I know he’s told me “I love you” before, but the first time he ever said the L-word was after Aaron exposed his scheme to get revenge on me. I figured he said it in a desperate attempt to get me to forgive him, and he didn’t actually mean it.

Until now.

TJ glances at me over his shoulder and gestures to come closer. “Mom, this is Lacey.”

I’ve never felt so nervous, but I oblige. Once I’m standing a few steps away from them, TJ rises to his feet and takes my hand.

“You’d love her, Mom. I know you would. She’s funny and smart. So smart it’s intimidating. She’s also caring and kind. She… she’s everything you ever wanted for me.”

I can’t speak, the pain in my throat clogging my airways, and my eyes become misty with tears.

Our story may have started with a lie, but to TJ, it doesn’t make it any less real.

A guy who doesn’t care doesn’t tell his family about you. He doesn’t publicly claim you as his girlfriend. He doesn’t open up to you and confide in you about the worst thing that’s ever happened to him.

I know now that Dia was right. His feelings are genuine. And it does make me feel better, but is it enough to fix what he broke?

“H-Hi,” I croak, waving at the woman TJ so desperately wanted to avenge.

The question is, why did he think ruining my life would be giving her justice? It doesn’t make any sense.

Unless…

Does he blame Daniel for his mom ending up here?

We spend the next thirty minutes just hanging out in Sophie’s room, telling her stories of all kinds. Vera talks about how stressful her week has been.

And I just know the bond these two sisters shared must’ve been an incredibly strong one. Vera mentions halfway through her stories that Sophie used to be the first person she wanted to tell when something happened. She was her big sister. Her confidante.

And now, she’s just… gone.

Fuck, that breaks my heart.

It’s one thing to lose your best friend once. It’s another to lose her every single time you see her for the rest of your life.

An employee eventually comes up to tell us visiting hours are over, and we have no choice but to say our goodbyes.

A foolish part of me thought Vera and TJ would be used to it. To seeing her like this. After all, it’s not their first time visiting, but something tells me that it never gets easier.

“Lovely meeting you, Lacey. It’s only a shame it wasn’t under happier circumstances,” Vera says and opens her arms for a hug.

I embrace her without a moment’s hesitation. “It was so nice meeting you.”

I’m sorry you lost your best friend,a voice in my head whispers.

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