Page 104 of Free to Breathe
“Corinna, look at me. Baby, see me.” I cup her jaw. “Please?”
Wet eyes stare into mine. I know I’m crying too. I feel the hot salt burn tracks down my cheeks.
“You have every right to be scared, but know this: I love you. Forever. And that isn’t going to change.” I trace around her temple where in a few hours an incision will soon be. “Not because of a scar, or what you can or can’t do other than love me. Do you love me?”
“For always,” her strangled whisper comes out.
“Then know I’ll be with you in that dark to pull you out. I love you so damn much.” I lean down and kiss her with every intent on giving her my own breath for her to come back to me. When the curtain is whooshed from behind me, I murmur, “For love.” Standing, I move back but don’t release her hand as the surgical team quickly checks her.
All too soon, they’re unlocking her bed. I hold her hand until we get to the final doorway where I can’t pass. “You have to say goodbye her here, sir,” one says politely.
I lean over and kiss her one last time. “Never forget.”
She reaches up with an IV in her hand. “I never will.”
And within seconds, she’s pushed through the doors for the fight of her life.
54
Black Bears
“Is she out?”
“Yes, Doctor.”
“Good. Let’s move her on three. One, two…lift. Make sure she’s centered before you strap her down. I’m going to let Moser know we’re ready for him.”
* * *
“Colby,why do you have Corinna’s Vera Bradley bag with you?” Holly asks curiously.
“I honestly don’t know,” I admit. “All I know is that she told me I had to carry this with me all day.”
We’ve taken over a private waiting room at Greenwich Hospital. Over the years, Caleb and Keene’s families have donated an insanely generous amount of money to the facility, so they arranged to secure the space for our private use for the duration of Corinna’s surgery.
Eight fucking hours.
I don’t know how I’m going to handle it.
I get up and begin to pace.
“Jesus, if you’re this bad and we’re only a half hour in, I can’t imagine what you’re going to be like at hour seven,” Ali mutters. I turn to blast her, but I catch the glint in Keene’s eye.
Suddenly, an annoying alarm goes off on a cell phone. Everyone starts checking their devices. Comments of “Nope” and “Not mine” pepper the room. Halfheartedly, I grab my phone. I’m shocked when I see a reminder going off.
6:50 AM: Purple Bag—Ziploc 1. Love, Corinna
“Holy shit,” I gasp. I quickly take a screenshot of it before silencing the alarm.
Caleb shoves his chair back. “What is it?” He’s not as calm as he’d like to pretend he’s being.
None of us are.
“It’s Corinna.”
The room lets out a collective gasp, so I quickly correct myself. “No, I mean it’s Corinna who did this.” I heft the purple bag onto the table.
“What do you mean, Colby?” Cassidy tilts her head.
