Page 89 of Nothing Without You
Not when I needed her.
I didn’t get to tell her…
“Adelaide,” I whispered. My head snapped towards Hasan, “Where the fuck are they?”
“They should be here soon. The hospital is a couple of blocks away. Let’s get her some water?—”
Tucking one arm behind neck and the other beneath her knees, I picked Adelaide up and started running.
“Christian, where are you going?” Osama’s voice boomed.
She was limp in my arms.
I had to get her to the hospital.
“Wake up, baby.”
I’m here, Sunshine. I’m not going anywhere.
You’ll be okay.
Adelaide.
Sweet Adelaide.
MyAdelaide.
I ran and ran, with only one word tainting the air around us.
I love you.
THIRTY
ADELAIDE
Beep.Beep. Beep.
The first time I opened my eyes, I remembered my head throbbing and my throat crying for water. I remembered Christian lifting me to take a sip which felt like heaven before I fell back asleep.
The second time I woke up, the room was dark—the only light was moonlight shining in through the windows—the sound of relentless, unintelligible sobbing pulled me out of a daze.
Christian sat on a ripped couch with his head in one hand. His shirt clung to his body. His other hand covered his mouth, attempting to muffle the sounds of his unintelligible sobs as his shoulder shook.
My heart broke at the sight of him.
I remembered mouthing his name, wanting to hug him. I remembered my body being so weak that I was pulled back into a lure.
The next time I woke up, Christian was gone, andUmaima pulled me into her chest. “You scared the living shit out of me.”
She squeezed the life out of me.
Just as I was about to pull away, she squeezed me harder. “I thought I lost you, Addie.”
Fainting on my period only happened once since being diagnosed with PCOS. This was now the second.
All the limbs in my body gave up on functioning. I didn’t have the energy to stand or to hug Umaima back. All I could do was soak in her love and hope it would be enough to get me out of here.
“I’m okay, you know?” The hoarseness of my voice hurt my throat. “It’s just a little blood.”
