Page 95 of The One for Me
“I know.”
“Do you?”
Sean nods.
“Do you know I love you?” I ask, my voice catching at the end.
He reaches out to where my hand rests on Austin’s shoulder and twists our fingers together. “I know that too.”
I hope that it’s enough. I need him, and these next few months are going to be a test that neither of us is ready for. No couple just starting their lives together should have a tragedy like this.
We are strong, but I have no idea if we’re strong enough.
There’s so much we have to work through.
Austin moves a little and both of our gazes snap to his face. He releases a small moan, and I take his hand in mine. “It’s okay, buddy.”
After a few more seconds, he opens his eyes, and the brown with tinges of yellow meet mine. “Auntie?”
Tears run down my face as I’m swallowed in the relief from seeing him awake. “Hi, sweet boy.”
I bring his small hand to my lips. He’s okay. I know that everything else around us is bad, but right in this very second, I allow myself to feel joy that Austin isn’t gone too.
He looks over at Sean.
“Hey, little man.”
Austin’s smile at seeing Sean makes my chest tight. “Where are Mom and Dad?”
Sean touches the top of his head. “What do you remember?”
He looks around. “I was on my phone and then . . .”
Austin gasps, and I grip his hand tighter. “It’s okay, Austin.”
“The accident. We were flying. I remember . . . I remember Dad yelling and then there were screams.” Austin’s body begins to tremble.
“Shhh,” I try to soothe him. “You don’t have to say anything, just breathe.”
“Mom? Dad?”
A tear falls down my cheek, and I use every ounce of strength I have to hold myself together. “The accident was bad. I’m sorry, Austin. I’m so sorry. They tried, but they . . .”
“No!” he yells as he tries to yank his hand from my grip. “No! I need to see them! Dad was okay. He was talking to me.”
A sob rips from his throat, and I want to scream and cry, but I hold his hand tighter. “And he fought so hard.” I wipe the tears that continue to fall.
“I know this is hard,” Sean speaks through tears of his own. “I know how much you want to make this stop, and we wish we could too. Your parents loved you so much.”
Austin cries harder, his fingers grip mine tighter. “I know you’re hurting, and it’s okay to cry and be angry,” I tell him. “I’m here. Sean is here. Nana and Pop are here. We love you so much, and we will do anything we can.”
He doesn’t say anything as he sobs, turning his head from side to side. “Dad was talking...he said it would be okay...”
“And he wanted it to be,” Sean replies.
“He said I had to fight. I had to be strong. He said once help came, we’d be fine. Why? Why isn’t he okay?”
My chin trembles, and I feel so hollow. “I don’t know. I don’t know, and I wish it was okay. I wish he was standing here with us, telling you how right he was.”
