Page 83 of Nightmare

“I can hear you!” Hazel calls.

I exhale.

Western reaches over and presses the nurse’s button. A moment later, one appears. “Can I help you?”

“Move her bed. She is bein’ harassed by the girl next to her.”

The nurse frowns, and Hazel yells. “Seriously? Are you fucking serious?”

“Ma’am,” the nurse says, stepping into Hazel’s section, “you cannot speak like that. You’re in a hospital.”

“Oh, fuck off.”

My eyes widen and a moment later the nurse has called security and Hazel is being moved. I can’t help the small smile that plays around my lips as I look to Western. He moves to my bed, reaching around the back of his neck and unclipping his chain. Then, surprising me, he leans down and puts his necklace on me. The cross. The one that obviously has meaning to him because he is never without it.

I don’t know what this means, but I’m certain that whatever it is, it matters.

My heart feels as though it just might explode.

“Rest.”

Pressing a kiss to my forehead, he leaves.

Watching the curtain close, I reach up and stroke the cross between my fingers.

Did Western just tell me I matter, without telling me I matter?

If so, what does that mean?

Closing my eyes, I’m excited to find out.

Maybe there is a future here for us, after all.

19

“You absolute cunt.”

---