Page 59 of Innocent Union
I couldn’t handle more rejection, especially from him.
I can only tell him how I really feel until I feel a lot more confident in myself. I’m starting to get there, but there’s still more work for me to do.
Erin looks up at me expectantly, still waiting for an answer. I decide to tell her the truth.
“I think I do love him, but please, don’t tell him. I need to do that.”
“I understand,” she says. “And thank you. I can rest knowing he’s loved.”
Her breath becomes shallower.
“Erin?”
Her eyes roll back into her head, and she slumps against the bed. The monitors she’s hooked up to start going wild.
I run out into the hall. “We need help!”
A couple of nurses run into the room.
“You need to leave,” one of them tells me.
“But—”
“Honey, leave. We got this.”
The other nurse is starting chest compressions, which can only mean one thing.
I stumble out of the room. Is Erin really dying, right at this moment? And Killian isn’t here to say goodbye?
I quickly call him. “Killian, it’s your mom. You need to come now.”
“I’ll be there.” He hangs up.
I wait in the hallway, wondering what’s going on. This can’t be the end, not when everything is just starting. It’s not fair Erin won’t get to see her son be happy. It’s not fair my mom will be the only one left, and she actively hates Killian. I know she’s trying, but I also know my mom. She can be stubborn. It’s not easy to change her mind.
The nurses and doctors leave the room, shaking their heads. I gasp.
“What happened?”
The doctor, a young-looking man, pulls me to the side. “I’m sorry. She passed away. Her heart gave out.”
I can only gape at the doctor. “So, she’s dead?”
“She is. I’m sorry for your loss.” He pats my arm awkwardly. “You can go in and see her.” With that, he walks away.
I’m frozen. Stunned. I knew Erin was sick, but I never thought I’d be the one with her when she died.
Killian comes running down the hall toward me, startling me out of my stunned state. “What’s going on?” He rushes into the room. “What’s going on?”
I follow him into the room. “Killian?—”
“What’s going on?” He looks between his mom on the bed and the remaining nurse in the room. “What?”
The nurse gives him an empathetic look. “I’m sorry for your loss, Killian. Your mom passed away.”
He stumbles back, clutching at his chest. “But … but …”
“I’ll give you two a minute,” the nurse says, leaving Killian and me alone in the room.
