Part 23 (1/2)

”Where are you?”

Mark quickly rattled off the address as he continued to stare at my mom in horror.

”Okay, sir, I've dispatched your location and paramedics are on the way. Can you tell me your name?”

”Mark.”

”And your girlfriend's name?”

”Jules... Julie,” he stuttered out, her name sounding like a prayer coming from his lips.

”Is Julie conscious, sir?”

”N-no.” He started crying. Like, really, truly crying. This large, tattooed, bearded giant was practically blubbering on the bathroom floor.

”Is she breathing?”

”B-b-barely.”

”Okay, the paramedics are almost there. Does she have a history of drug abuse?”

Mark wailed, the phone shaking in his hand. His sobs were too great to provide her an answer. I grabbed the phone out of his hand to finish the call while Mark begged my mother to wake up.

”Jules. It's me, babe. Please don't leave me. I love you. I love you.” He sniffled as his hands gripped her face. ”I forgive you. If you come back, I'll always forgive you, you know that. Just... please.”

”Sir? Sir?”

My eyes were glued to her frozen form as I said, ”Sorry, yes, I'm here. I'm her daughter and yes, she's a long-term abuser of heroin.”

I didn't remember the rest of the call. I didn't remember anything of importance.

I remembered random things. The streaks on the bathroom mirror, like she had just cleaned it. The peeled label on the bottle of gin. The lower b.u.t.ton missing on her blouse. The way her light blue jeans had frayed at the ends. The chip in the blue nail polish on her toes.

I remembered the spider wedged in the corner next to the toilet, and the dust that had collected under the counter.

I remembered her face looking peaceful.

I only remembered what I could see. I didn't remember any of what I felt.

Probably because what I felt was nothing...

My mother was lying unconscious on her bathroom floor, and I felt nothing.

I knocked on her door, holding flowers in one hand and stuffing the other in my pocket. When no answer came, I frowned and checked my watch. Naomi went to tell her mother about her law school acceptance letters a couple of hours ago. She was sure she'd have plenty of time to make it back before our date.

Just as I was about to knock again, Alara answered, looking fl.u.s.tered and stressed. Her brows furrowed as she glanced between me and the peonies.

”What are you doing here?”

”Naomi and I had a date.” I looked over her shoulder to find Gabe walking toward us with a packed bag.

”She didn't call you?” Her expression was one of shock and confusion.

My stomach dropped and my palms suddenly felt sweaty. ”No, is she okay?” My slicked hands tightened on the stems as I stepped forward and looked for signs of her.

”She's not here.” Alara glanced back at Gabe, who had stopped behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. ”We're actually on our way to her. She's at the hospital.” Naomi's friend took a deep breath, looking close to tears, and opened her mouth to say more when I cut her off.

”She's in the hospital?” I asked in a panic. I had thought all of my ups and downs with Ellie had prepared me for something like this. But I wasn't prepared at all. I wasn't- ”She's okay. She's not hurt,” Gabe quickly cut in before squeezing Alara's shoulders and looking down at her. ”Breathe.”

”Why's she at the hospital?” I bit out, getting impatient. Gabe looked up at my cold tone and his eyes softened in sympathy.

”It's her mom,” Alara said quietly as she looked down.

I stared at her in shock. And all I could think about was Ellie and what I'd feel if it were her in the hospital. All the air left my lungs and I squeezed the flowers harder as my hands shook.

”I'll take these.” Gabe carefully pried them from my hand before walking away, and several seconds later, I heard water running.

”She's still alive?” I asked with my eyes on the ground.

”Yeah, Naomi, uh... Naomi found her.” As Alara's voice cracked, my eyes closed and I drew in several deep breaths.

”I'm coming with you,” I said when Gabe returned and picked up the duffle.

”We packed a bag for Naomi.” He held it up before crossing the threshold and grabbing Alara's hand. ”Wanna see if we missed anything?”

Nodding, I walked past them and down the hall until I reached Naomi's room. The second I crossed the threshold, I looked to the dresser where Naomi kept her ”lucky” necklace. I didn't even need to open the box. It was lying right on top.

She'd been wearing it every day since she'd shown up drunk at Swerved. The only reason she was without it today was because Ellie and I had convinced her to go swimming last night and she didn't want to lose it, so she left it behind. And after I told her I loved her this morning, there was no way she was leaving my side. She only left about two hours ago because she was finally ready to tell her mom about Yale and all the other schools she'd been accepted to.

I quickly grabbed it before stuffing it in my pocket and striding back to the living room where Gabe and Alara were waiting, whispering to each other.

”I'll drive.”

They glanced at each other in concern and I saw Gabe subtly shake his head at Alara before handing me his keys. We were at the hospital in no time. I didn't need to look at them to know my driving had probably scared them.

I threw the car into park before sprinting toward the entrance, not bothering to check where Alara or Gabe were. I was still catching my breath and looking around the lobby when they both came in behind me.

”Alara.” All three of us turned to see a distraught guy walking toward us.

Alara breathed a sigh of relief. ”Derek,” she said as she stepped into his arms.

I watched Naomi's brother as his eyes drifted shut, trying to catalogue all the similarities they shared. This was the first time I'd ever seen him, I wasn't even sure he knew who I was. He slowly opened his eyes and let Alara go in order to shake Gabe's hand.

”How is she doing?” Gabe asked.

”Stable.” He shrugged and shook his head. ”Thanks for coming. We really appreciate it.”

”Of course,” they said in unison just as I asked, ”Where's Naomi?”