Page 26 of Breaking
"Thank you for calling," she whispered, her voice barely steady. "Was she in pain?"
"No," Nurse Lindsey assured her. "She was peaceful in the end."
Jenna nodded numbly, then realized the nurse couldn't see her. "Thank you," she murmured again before ending the call.
The phone slipped from her hand, clattering onto the coffee table. A hollow emptiness filled her chest, but she didn't have the luxury of falling apart. Not yet. Dani and Dylan needed her.
She took a shaky breath and forced herself up. The house was dimly lit by the early morning light creeping through the curtains. She padded toward the kitchen, needing a moment to gather herself before she told the kids.
Later that morning, Jenna gathered Dani and Dylan in the living room. She sat down in front of them, her heart aching as she took in their wary expressions.
Dani clutched a cushion to her chest, her face pale. Dylan sat beside her, hunched forward, his hands clenched into fists.
Jenna exhaled slowly. "I need to tell you something."
Dylan stiffened immediately. "She's gone, isn't she?"
Jenna's throat constricted. "Yes, sweetheart. Sasha passed away early this morning."
Dani's breath hitched, and she shook her head, hugging the cushion tighter. "No. No, this isn't fair. She was supposed to come home."
Dylan shot up from the couch, his face red with anger. "So, what now? What happens to us?" he snapped. "Are they going to split us up?"
Jenna's heart twisted at the raw fear in his voice. She reached for his hand, but he yanked it away. "Dylan, listen to me," she said firmly. "No one is taking you away. No one is separating you and Dani."
"How do you know that?" he demanded, his voice rising in panic. "They always say that, and then they do it anyway! Social services don’t care. They'll send us to different homes, and we'll never see each other again!"
Dani let out a broken sob. "Jenna, please don't let them."
Jenna moved closer; her voice unwavering. "I won't. I swear to you both-I will fight for you. Sasha wanted you together, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that happens."
Dylan's chest rose and fell rapidly as he looked at her, searching for any sign of deceit. Finally, after what felt like forever, he slumped back onto the couch, his shoulders shaking. "I don't want to go anywhere else," he muttered.
Jenna wrapped an arm around him, pulling him into a firm hug. "You're staying with me," she whispered. "Both of you. I promise."
Dani reached for Jenna's other hand, squeezing tightly. "Thank you."
For the first time since the call, Jenna allowed herself to take a deep breath. She didn't have all the answers, but she had them. And for Sasha, she would fight to keep them.
Jenna sat in the hospital room long after the machines had been turned off, her hands still wrapped around Sasha's cooling fingers. The silence was heavier than anything she had ever experienced. Sasha had always been there, always been the one to pull her through every crisis, and now she was gone.
She thought of all the times Sasha had lifted her up, reminded her that even in the darkest moments, there was always a way forward. Now, Jenna had to be the strong one. For Dani. For Dylan. For Sasha's memory.
She wiped her face, inhaling deeply. There was no clarity in this moment, no immediate answers about what came next. But there was one thing she knew for certain-she wasn't going to let Sasha down. She would fight for the kids, make sure they had a home, and keep them together.
Because that's what Sasha would have done.
Jenna stood, smoothing Sasha's hair and kissed her forehead one last time before stepping away. "Goodbye, Sash," she whispered. "I'll take care of them. I swear."
As she left the room, Dani and Dylan were waiting for her in the hallway. They had gone in to see Sasha before Jenna. Dylan's eyes were red-rimmed, but he stood defiantly next to his sister. Dani reached out, and Jenna took both their hands, gripping them tightly. Her face was streaked with tears.
Her phone started buzzing. There had been multiple missed calls, most of them from Troy. She did not even bother to read the texts. Her chest felt like it had caved in. She felt tired...drained.
Enough time to reply later. First, she needed to sort the kids out. Troy can wait like she had been waiting for years.
"We're going home," she said. "Together."
Dani nodded, and Dylan, after a moment of hesitation, let out a shaky breath. "Okay," he whispered, his voice full of unshed tears.
