Page 57 of Fighting the Tide
“I made you a promise, Brooke Eastham.I told you if you were to sail over that edge, I would be right behind you, and I meant it when I said I would blame you forever in our afterlife for killing me.”I bend my forehead to her hand and let her cool skin steal my heat.“D–don’t leave m–me.”
I know, I told myself, many times over the years, that I wanted nothing more to do with Brooke Eastham, but deep inside, I knew I would one day fold.This magnetism between us could only be ignored for so long, and soon it would snap us back together.She could deny us all she wanted, but I knew I would be back to try again eventually.I don’t think I will ever stop trying.We’ve always been perfect for each other.We just never found the right time, and I wasn’t going to give up, until I did.She needs to survive so our perfect ever after will come true.
Her hand is so still, and everything feels so mechanical.Her breathing is precisely timed, her beating heart is repetitious, and the room is just echoing it all back around my head like a taunting, cruel joke.It doesn’t feel like Brooke is here because the throbbing in my chest disappeared as soon as I stepped into the room.Now, all I feel is empty inside, like my chest is a gaping wound, just wanting to swallow me whole.
“Why were you with him, Brooke?What makes you keep going back to him?”I whisper as I press my lips to her hand.“Does your heart beat for him like mine does for you?Do you feel drawn to him and the feeling becomes all-consuming until you’re standing there in front of him?”My tears land on her skin as I cry to her, asking her all the questions that have been plaguing my mind for years.“That’s how I feel about you.I asked you once if you came to find me at the lighthouse because something was pulling at you, and that’s what I meant.It’s as if our souls need to be in close proximity for mine to feel whole.”
The door to her room opens as I lift my head and watch her father walk in, his eyes rimmed in red.I let go of her hand and begin to stand, but he waves me off.“Sit.I’m not here to make you leave.I can see just how much you care about her, and I’m hoping she feels it enough to come back.”
I settle back in the seat and retake Brooke’s hand, hoping to keep the warmth in her fingers.“What happened?”I ask quietly as he takes a deep breath.
“Sean Clark happened.”He shakes his head and wipes at his eyes with his hands.“Brenda was a little hostile earlier because it was always you or him.Brooke would float back and forth and each time you would leave, she’d sink into a depression, only to be scooped up by Sean.”
“I…” I trail off, not sure what to say.
“It’s not your fault, and Brenda knows that too.We’re just really emotional right now.She did speak highly of you, our Brooke.She said you were keeping her accountable in high school and pushing her to be something great.I guess we just thought you’d always do it, as selfish as that sounds.”He steps up to the end of the bed and puts his hand on his daughter’s foot, keeping his eyes on her as if his will alone will make her wake up.“But that was never your job and we shouldn’t have expected someone else to raise our daughter.Now I’m just hoping for a second chance.”
I don’t know how to make him feel better about how they raised Brooke because I don’t think they did a great job, and in all honesty, I don’t have the energy to make him feel better.So I turn back to Brooke, willing her eyes to open and roll at my presence as they always did.I want to hear her laugh as I tell her a stupid joke, or even hear her scoff when I beg her to be mine.
“We were in Europe when we heard about your mother.I’m so sorry for your loss.”He breaks the silence as I nod my thanks.I don’t really need his sympathies for the woman who cleaned his fucking toilets.That was all she was to them anyway.“Brooke always had nice things to say about her.Did you know your mother is the one who told her to take over the theater and prove to us she could handle responsibility?”My head perks up at that because Mom never told me, nor did Brooke.“It’s true.It was after we terminated her services and she saw Brooke in town.Brooke told me she wasn’t too nice about it, but it was the wake-up call she needed.She was doing so good,” he sobs loudly, his tears hitting the bedspread.“Then he came back for the summer.She just could never stay away from him, and I’d be lying if I didn’t see the potential in their union.It was a match made in industry heaven, but I’d also be lying if I didn’t say I knew you were the better man.”His voice hitches as he continues to rub her foot.“She knew it too.”
That only serves to fill my chest with fire, the flame burning through my lungs as I press my forehead to her hand, my tears dropping rapidly to her bed.I was the housekeeper’s son, not worthy of Brooke Eastham, but I would’ve loved her more than anyone else in this world if she had let me.
Iwilllove her more than anything when she wakes up.I will.
“What have the doctors said?”I ask when he finally calms down, and the room is once again a cacophony of beeps and hums.
“She took a critical hit to the head.She hit the windshield and her brain hemorrhaged.They managed to stop the bleeding, but they don’t know when or if she’ll wake up.”His voice is soft as he tells me her prognosis and I refuse to believe the worst.
“She’s strong.She’ll pull through this.There’s no one else as stubborn as Brooke on this planet,” I vow as I grip her hand in mine.
“I hope you’re right,” he replies as he stands there, watching his daughter being forced to breathe.
After a few minutes of silence, he leaves us alone again, his shoes clicking off the tile as he walks out of the room.
“Now that he’s gone, you can wake up and talk to me.I know they never really knew you and now’s a little too late to be trying so hard.You could wake up and tell him yourself before I have to.We both know how I can be a little overbearing sometimes.”I chuckle as I imagine her huffing and rolling her eyes.God, how I wish I could see her do that one more time.
The door opens again and I turn to see Cassie walk in, her hand to her mouth as she gets a good look at the girl who she’s called a best friend all these years.“Brooke,” she sobs into her hands as she moves to stand on the other side of the bed.“Is she going to—”
“Don’t say it,” I snap.“Not in here and not around me.”It’s harsh, but I can’t be bothered to care.That energy won’t be tolerated in this room.I will protect her peace while she slowly comes back to me.
“Sorry,” Cassie gasps as she looks down into Brooke’s face, then her eyes flick to our joined hands.I won’t deny how awkward this is, and if she asks me right now if I still love Brooke, I will tell her yes.It will always be yes, and Cassie would deserve the truth.“I want her to wake up,” she cries.“I can’t stand to see her in here.”
“Me too,” I mumble.“Me too.”
“I rented a room at the hotel up the street—”
“I’m not leaving.”I drop my head down to the bed as I once again press my mouth to Brooke’s hand.
“Okay,” Cassie whispers, then a few moments later, she leaves the room.
I’m startled awake as the surrounding machines begin to blare, the sounds like sirens as doctors and nurses rush into the room.I quickly get out of my chair and move out of the way as they all surround Brooke, each of them saying something different.
“You have to wait outside, young man.”An older nurse takes me by the hand and leads me out of the room.“I’ll make sure to come see you when I know more.I’ve seen you in here with her all day,” she soothes, then runs back inside.
“What’s happening?”Brenda Eastham comes running down the hall, her husband not too far behind.
“I don’t know.”I shake my head as I stare at the door in front of me.“Everything just started beeping, and they all rushed in.”
