Page 102 of Heal Me

"I'm so sorry," I say breathlessly.

"My girl," she holds my hand, "for you, it’s the same pain as for us, but you must be strong. For him. For us."

"But I cannot. I'm not strong. I am weak. I can't fight. I want to go to him, I want to hug him, I want to be with him. I want him to have this life, not me."

"I know, dear. It hurts. I was ready to give my life for him, but it happened, and you have to live for him."

"It's not fair. This is all unfair."

"I want you to be happy," she wipes my tears. "For him, for my boy."

I can't make that promise, but I'll try. I will try to be better for Denys. I will try to be happy for him.

***

I exhale and sit on the white bed. And although I only saw the

Dominican Republic through the window on the car we were taking here, I have already fallen in love. All that's left for me to do is unpack and get ready for the New Year's Eve party, but all I'm doing right now is laying on my bed and staring at the ceiling.

"Hi," someone knocks on the door and enters.

Louis.

"Can't unpack things either? " He laughs and sits down next to me.

I cross my legs.

"No," I moan, "why can't I leave them in the suitcase, after a week they have to be put back in anyway."

"To be honest," Louis whispers and leans towards me as if telling the greatest secret of humanity, "I never unpack things." I'm laughing. Why am I not surprised?

I look down at my black shorts and white t-shirt, then look at Louis. He is now wearing perfectly clean white shorts, a blue cotton shirt and black glasses. Because of the high humidity in the air here, his light, almost golden hair twisted a little.

He looks like he should have a surfboard in his hands and shoot some American movie about lifeguards on the beach.

"I'll probably do the same," I nod.

"We have a few hours before everything starts, so we can play some board games."

"Did you bring board games with you?" I am surprised, although I don't even know why.

This is Louis.

"Well, of course," he laughs.

"So, yes."

"Okay, Sebastian is waiting for us," Louis gets up from the bed.

I also get up and am ready to leave when I hear a text message on my phone.

"I will catch up," I inform and take the phone in my hands.

Danylo:Happy New Year!

And although the New Year in the Dominican Republic will come in seven hours, I am sending a reply.

Me:Happy New Year!

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