Page 387 of The First Time
It's not too late to reverse my decision. It's not too late to take Blake's money to pay for school.
But that feels wrong. There are other ways. Need-based scholarships. Loans.
Working while I go to community college part time.
Between checking school deadlines and working on my comic, I lose track of time.
Lizzy wishes me goodnight. Promises to check on me before she leaves for school tomorrow. My phone beeps with a low battery warning. I go to plug it in when I see—
Blake: Kat, call me. I need to talk about Meryl.
It's only an hour or two old and there's a missed call to go with it.
I dial Blake and hold the phone to my ear.Please be okay, please be okay, please be okay.
"Kat," he answers. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Can you tell me what's going on?" I dig my fingers into the phone. "I mean, thank you for the book."
"It's supposed to be an early wedding present."
"Even so."
"You like it?" There's vulnerability in his voice. He really does want to make me happy.
"Very much." I clear my throat, but it does nothing to chase the light feeling from my limbs. "What's happening with Meryl?"
His breath catches. "Kat…" Every ounce of hope drains from his voice.
My heart sinks.
Blake is rattled.
He's never rattled.
There's no way this is going to be okay.
His voice is quiet. Soft. "She's going home tonight."
I take a deep breath and exhale slowly. "What does that mean."
"It's hospice care. She only has a few days."
Fuck. "Are you okay?"
His exhale is heavy. "Are you?"
I shake my head. Something he won't hear.
A tear rolls down my cheek.
How can something so inevitable hurt this badly?
Meryl deserves better.
She deserves more.
She's been so kind to me. Kinder than anyone has been in a long, long time.
