Page 2 of Starstruck
“Lennon—” Paige begins, but I cut her off before she has a chance to say anything else.
“I know what you’re going to say, P, and I appreciateit, but it’s not going to take away the guilt I’m feeling right now. Until I know Mom and Dad are okay, it’ll eat me up. And if they aren’t”—my voice cracks at the possibility of losing them—“I can promise you I will never stop blaming myself, no matter what either of you say. So please, just…don’t. I love you, but I can’t hear it right now.”
My eyes shift back and forth between the two of them. Dylan stares blankly at me while Paige has tears in her eyes.
If that didn’t tell them how I’m really doing, then I don’t know what will. But it had to be said. If I didn’t say it, they’d continue reminding me of hownot my faultthe accident was, which in turn would make me feel even more like itismy fault.
I blow out a breath. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
“It’s okay, Lens. We understand, and we love you too. We’re here for you, no matter what happens.” Paige squeezes the hand she has grasped in hers before reaching across me to grab Dylan’s hand, too, and he grabs onto my cast gently.
I glance between the two of them, appreciating how patient they’re being with me. My brother and sister are a steady balance between light and dark, serious and optimistic, and I truly couldn’t love either of them more.
At this moment, I realize that while I don’t want it to just be the three of us after this, maybe we will be okay as long as we still have each other.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Dr. Hill says alongside a knock on the door. “How are you feeling, Miss Thorne?”
I tilt my chin to my chest. “I’m okay. The meds are helping with the pain.”
“Glad to hear it.” She walks over to check the dosage before writing something down in my chart. Then she moves back to the doorway, looking out into the hall before glancing back to us.
“Any news about our parents yet?” Dylan grits out, worry laced in his tone.
The doctor clears her throat as her eyes shift between the three of us. My heart worms its way up into my throat with everysecond that passes as we wait for her to start speaking.
“Not yet,” she begins, and I breathe a sigh of relief. No news is better than hearing they’re dead. It means there’s stillhope. “Both of them are still in surgery—your mother is with the cardiothoracic surgeon to remove the piece of glass embedded in her heart, and our best neurosurgeon is working on reducing the swelling in your father’s brain. I promise, as soon as there’s news, I’ll come tell you.”
“Thank you,” Paige says softly as Dylan grunts.
There’s an uncomfortable silence in the air for a split second before Dylan excuses himself to get coffees.
“I think you’re going to want to stay for this,” the doctor states.
Paige sits upright as two police officers join Dr. Hill in the doorway, and she gestures to them.
“These gentlemen would like to talk to you about the accident.”
I gulp, my throat dry.
Paige turns to me, tears welling in her eyes. “Are you comfortable speaking with them about what happened?” she asks, her voice shaky. She can’t help her constant worry despite the fact that I know she would give anything to have some answers.
I blink. It’s not that I’m not comfortable with it—the issue is I don’t remember much of anything.
All I can see in my memories is the image of the other driver with a breathalyzer in his mouth, which is also the part I have yet to share with my siblings.
Swallowing roughly, I tilt my head down. “Yeah, I’ll talk to them.”
The doctor nods and takes a step out of the room as the officers come in further.
“Hi, Miss Thorne,” one of the officers says. He’s an older man with kind eyes. His partner looks like a rookie with the face of a twelve-year-old. Both of them send sad smiles our way, as if theyknow something we don’t. “I’m Curtis, and this is my trainee, Josh. We have some questions to ask you about the accident, if that’s okay.”
I nod hesitantly. “I really don’t remember much.”
“That’s alright. We have a pretty good idea of what happened based on eye-witness statements and the cameras at the intersection, we just need some confirmation from you. Hopefully, our questions will help jog your memory.”
I sigh, relieved. “Okay.”
“According to the few witnesses we’ve spoken to, you had the advanced left turn, correct?”
