Page 108 of The Hate We Breathe
Her face is a mask of fury, panic, and anguish. My heart jolts as I reach for her.
“Baby… what’s wrong?”
A lone tear escapes her eye. She stares back at me and there’s a plea in her expression, but if she doesn’t speak, I won’t know what she needs. Whatever it is, though, I’ll give it to her. Even if it kills me.
“No.” She chokes on the word.
“No?” I tilt my head. “No what, baby?”
“Don’t let it kill you,” she tells me. “Come back.”
“I’m right here,” I tell her.
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I realize that they’re wrong. Here—wherever it is—isn’t real. I look around, a scowl forming on my lips. When did I even get here?
Beep.
Juliet gasps for breath and I reach for her, needing to touch her, to pull her into my arms. However we got here, I’ll protect her. I’ll keep her safe. I’d wouldn’t just kill for her, I’ddiefor her.
“But that’s not what I want,” she says, and it takes me far longer than it should to realize that either she’s reading my mind or I’m speaking my thoughts aloud. “I want you with me. Come back to me. To us.”
I glance at the place beyond the shadows. Light pierces through in some parts and each time it does, I feel another sharp pang of agony spread through me. Were it anyone else standing before me, I wouldn’t be able to admit the truth in my heart.
“It… hurts out there.” Going out there would be like walking through the gates of hell. A part of me wants to ask her to stay here with me instead.
Hell is a frame of mind and I’ve been here for so long, I’ve forgotten what it was like not to hurt.
It’s nice not to be in pain for a change. If I go out there, it’ll only fucking kill me all over again.
Beep.
Juliet touches my hand, her skin scalding hot, and I wince as she gently weaves her fingers with mine. Why is she so warm? Or perhaps I’m just cold… like I’m already dead.
“Come back,” she says again, and I can no longer deny her. If going out there will make her happy, then I’ll suffer the pain. For her… I’d suffer anything.
“Okay, baby.” My words are a whisper, the sounds coming from the other side of the darkness louder now that my decision has been made. I cup her cheek and bend down, pressing her forehead to mine.
Jagged streaks of white-hot torment slam into me and I grit my teeth to keep from screaming. It’s too late to go back now. Together, we walk towards the fog and I let the darkness ease away with each step.
Beep.
I open my eyes to a brilliant light over my head, burning straight into my corneas. A gasp escapes me, but there’s something covering my nose and mouth that keeps me from hearing it.
Human figures in blue caps and white masks covering every part of their face aside from their eyes peer down at me. “Hold on,” someone snaps. “I think he’s back with us.”
I blink, the weight of my eyelids slowly dragging with the movement. God, I’m tired. Everything fucking hurts.
“Ju…” I try to speak, but the rasp of my own voice is gone. “Ju…” Darkness reaches for me again, curling in at the edges of my vision as the light dims. “Juliet…” I finally say, but the shadows have dragged me back into their arms once more. Thankfully, this time, I think it’ll be easier to come back. After all, my baby is waiting for me.
The next time I wake,there’s no bright light shining down from above. In fact, it’s relatively dark and I’m lying on a thin mattress with my upper body slightly raised. Blinking through the blurry spots dancing in front of me, I take in the room.
A soft glow spills in from the open hospital room door, revealing the people in the room. Nolan and Gio are both passed out, back-to-back on an uncomfortable-looking couch with wooden arms. One of Gio’s legs is thrown over the side with the arm closest to the back of the couch slung along the cushions. His head is propped on one of Nolan’s shoulders, mouth hanging open as he breathes through a snort. Nolan, however, is sitting with his arms crossed over his chest and his head tucked down.
Neither of them moves as I shift, biting back a curse as a sharp pang flares in my shoulder and thigh. Releasing a hissing breath, I count backwards from ten until the urge to scream dies down. Only then do I look over, fearing what I might find—or rather, what Iwon’tfind.
The moment I see her, tears fill my eyes. Never has there ever been another more beautiful sight of Juliet curled in a ball atop a cot. Her blue hair fans over half of her face, hiding most of it from view. The soft rise and fall of her chest, though, and the small murmurs she makes when she’s in a deep sleep are music to my ears.
Letting my lids drop, I lift my arm, ignoring the fresh edge of discomfort, and cover my closed eyes as the liquid pools and slips free. My shoulders shake and the steady beeping noise behind me picks up in pace only to slow back down when I take several calming breaths.
