Page 63 of I Promise You
He can’t hurt me.
Nora is in jail.
I tip-toe, looking through the peephole. I keep myself balanced on my toes, giving myself a boost. Looking through the tiny circular window, I see…nothing.
Then a ghastly cold brush of air cradles the side of my face, demanding my attention.
How did the wind blow into me if I’m insidemy house?
I look to my left to investigate the source of the foreign element.
Then I see my curtains flow like they’re being blown.
A window is open.
What the hell? I don’t remember lifting it, and Danny would never leave the house unlocked.
Before making sudden movements, I clutch my phone tight before I check my security cameras. My fingers shake as I scroll from side to side on my phone screen, searching for my app. My breathing is enhanced with panic, but my eyebrows narrow when I don’t see any notifications.
No alerts, no sign of break-in attempts, nothing.
My rigid body goes relaxed with solace. If there’s no sign of an intruder, I’m okay…right?
My bones creak in my feet with each step I take, getting closer to my window.
The crisp air is still flowing like a fan against me, and my whole body shivers the more I get closer to the window. The temperature causes goosebumps to explode upright, and I hug myself.
I quickly pull down my window, locking it, as one last gush of ice wind freezes my skin.
The screen is still there, untouched.
Screw this. I’m going back to bed. This is the last thing I need right now.
I go back to the kitchen, finally grabbing what I came for. I swallow the room-temperature water until the water bottle is halfway empty.
I need to rest more before I go into today’s constantly busy shift.
Today was going to be another day of work. A twelve-hour shift in the ER awaited me in just four hours and…I was excited.
I wondered what types of cases awaited me today in a few hours and I’m hoping I avoid sex injury cases, and I silently prayed no Special Operator would be in a bed, barely hanging onto life. Honestly, I hopeno onedies today or is struggling to hang on.
I stop by my mother’s house after work because today is not just another day.
Today was the day my brother was killed in action from a mission gone wrong. It was a day that changed my path in life.I was going to be a pediatric nurse. After he passed, it was a decision I made without any hesitation.
I will honor my brother for the rest of my life, helping men and women like him. If I can prevent a mother or a sister from losing their son or brother, I’ll do it forever, as long as my body will let me.
Grief is a pain that won’t ever let up. A pain that will follow Mother, Danny, and me no matter what, but the amount of detrimental sorrow would vary.
Grief comes in waves and storms that crash into us whenever something pushes it.
It could be a memory, it could be a holiday…or it could bea song.
After giving it three knocks, I walk into my mother’s house, and she responds swiftly.
“Come in!” she shouts from the inside, but her voice is far away.
She knows it’s me. She still has the security system set up. Danny ensures they’re always charged and running because my mom asked him to help her keep up with those things since she’s alone. I also help out, but I think it makes me fall even more in love with Danny, knowing he makes an incredible effort to keep his promise to my brother.
