Page 108 of Diluted Truths
Oliver and Sarah exchanged hugs with Jackie, both elated to have their friend back.
“What were you saying?” Jackie asked after a moment of getting reacquainted with her friends.
“At the start of this, remember how there were four trials in the teaching of the Cult of Creatio to bring about the ‘end of times’?” I asked Jackie. She nodded. “Do you remember how with each trial an Advocate is created?” She nodded again.
“Griffin called you an Advocate,” Sarah explained to Jackie. “He said the seals were breaking and you were an Advocate.”
Jackie stared at each of us, obviously confused. “There were four, right? Four Advocates?”
“Yeah. He said you were the second,” Theo answered. “Kai is the first.”
Jackie seemed to marinate on all of the information we had dumped on her. None of it made sense. We are talking about cults and the end of times. These conversations weren’t supposed to be a part of our reality.
Finally, Jackie broke the silence. “That’s why the Cult took me? It was the trial?”
I nodded. “I think so, yes.”
“How is this real?” she whispered.
I hugged her close because I had no answer. All that mattered right then was that she was here and she was safe. I breathed her in.
She smelled different, like dust after rain.
“Are you sniffing me?” Jackie asked with a laugh.
“Yes, and I’m not ashamed.”
Everyone in the room began laughing at that when the nurse came in to let us know visiting hours were over and Jackie needed to sleep. The other said their goodbyes, promising to come back tomorrow.
“I’m not leaving,” I protested as our friends closed the door behind them.
“Sir, you have to. It’s hospital policy,” the nurse explained.
“Fuck hospital policy. I’m staying.”
Jackie sighed. “It’s okay, Will.”
I turned to her. “It’s not. You were gone, Jackie. One second I had the love of my life with me and the next you were just gone. I can’t do that again. I-I can’t go another night without you by my side. Please, Sunshine, please,” I pleaded with her as tears fell down my face.
“Fine, but do not tell them it was me who allowed it,” the nurse stated as she turned to leave.
Jackie and I looked at one another when we heard the door click shut. Once again we were alone.
“Will.”
“Jackie.”
“I’m scared.”
“So am I.”
“Now what?” she asked.
I smiled a soft smile at her as I took her face in my hand. “I don’t know. But we’ll figure it out together.” I then brought my lips to hers and kissed the love of my life again.
I could tell Jackie wanted more, she wiggled next to me almost immediately but I quickly put a stop to that.
“You need sleep, Sunshine.”
