Page 41 of I Promise You
“You’ll never guess what case I’m working on right now.” Lori drops her clipboard on the counter desk and rubs her eyes, frustrated.
“Oh no, you need help?” I offer.
“No, I’ll be fine.”
“Then what is it?”
She looks at me, furrowing her brows so hard, trying not to laugh.
“A Mason jar got stuck somewhere.”
“What? Like where?”
“Somewhere the sun doesn’t shine.”
I gasp, holding my hands over my mouth. This is the first time I’ve heard about this.
“Like…in the bu—”
She cuts me off, placing her head on the counter so I can’t see her anymore.
“Yes,” she squeaks through a heavy breath.
Her forehead rests on her forearms as she squats down, stretching as a frustrated groan releases.
“How did it not break?” I ask, lowering my voice closer to her ears. Well…this is a first.
She lifts her head so her chin rests on her forearms, pieces of hair land on her face, and she blows air from her mouth to clear them away.
“By the grace of God.”
13
ARI
My feet ache, my back hurts, and the scars I carry on my stomach still hurt.
It’s been two months, and I can still feel the wounds like I was stabbed yesterday. I think it will take me forever to heal from this…even longer mentally. It’s seven at night and the sky has multiple shades of purple, pink, orange, and blue. I have a beautiful view of the sky as I make the drive home.
Lori was right. Doctor Reese was an absolute pain to be around. I miss Doctor Golds. She was a fantastic doctor and now we’re stuck with the Grinch. He’s very picky with his version of protocols and scheduling. It was ridiculous. He even tried to keep me past my scheduled hours and go over time today, but Lori quickly stepped in, reminding him it was my birthday, so he let me go.
Nothing too crazy happened today at work. There were no code strokes, nobody died, and everyone who came in was discharged or hospitalized.
Everyone lived, so it’s a good day.
I haven’t heard any phone calls from my mom wishing me a happy birthday and I find it odd. She never forgets my birthday.I haven’t spent too much time with my mom since the attack. I’ve been self-isolating, but not entirely.
Danny’s been there since I was hospitalized and he’s been there through my night terrors. He killed my abuser and sent the other one to prison.
Every night around three in the morning, I wake up screaming, a Grim Reaper freshly haunting my mind, and Danny is quick to hold me until my anxiety attacks subside.
I’m in love with him, but something else fucks with my head, and it’s our future. Our future remains uncertain. I’m unsure if I want to be with someone who’s always gone. I’m unsure I want to be with someone who might not come home alive. I don’t want to be stuck waiting for any man or worrying about him.
I’m not being fair. Or am I?
I lost my brother to the same job Danny holds so high.
It’s not like he’s just choosing to be gone. He has an obligation to the Navy. To his work that has been engraved into him since he was a child by his parents.
