She did smile then. “No, where did he get themfrom?”
“No idea, didn’t ask,” I said with a laugh. “And Dexter is applying for his licence to practice. We need a therapist at the centre, possiblytwo.”
I watched as she placed her fingertips on the screen. “Hold my hand, Jack,” shesaid.
I covered them with mine and heard her sigh. “I want to wrap my arms around you right now, take away your sadness. I want to whisper into your ear until you fall asleep and then hold you all night,” Iwhispered.
“I want thattoo.”
We fell silent for a few moments. “Lay down,Summer.”
I watched as she climbed under her duvet and placed her laptop beside herhead.
“Close your eyes and just listen to me. I wrote a song for you,baby.”
I propped my phone on a pillow and leaned down beside the bed to pick up myguitar.
“You can play the guitar?” sheasked.
“Not very well, I know a few chords that’sall.”
I strummed my fingers over the strings and sang the song I’d practiced and committed tomemory.
When it’s dark inside, I think of you, I dream ofyou.
I see the light that surrounds you, and peace washes overme.
Although you’re so far away, I have you in myheart.
It hurts, and that’s okay. One day I’ll set that painfree.
I don’t wanna look back, I don’t wanna lookdown.
I want to take one step at a time, one step at atime.
Always moving forward with you by myside.
I’ll learn how to heal; I’ll learn how tobreathe.
I’ll love my scars as areminder.
Of a time when it was dark inside. And I’ll think of you, I’ll dream ofyou.
I hadn’t gotten to the second verse before I noticed her eyelids droop. I watched her fall asleep and when her breathing deepened, I loggedoff.