Quick thinking?
A vision of a crocodile floating in the water flashed through my brain. All of a sudden it jerked, launching out of the still pool, its jaws open wide for the kill.
"Crocodiles," I whispered and then smiled. "It wasn't my thinking."
The nurse looked confused as she tried to interpret my ramblings.
"Zach. I want Zach." Tears burned my eyes as I looked up at her.
Her smile was gentle and reassuring. "You mean the pacing boy out in the waiting room? Don't worry, honey. He wants to see you too. I'll go get him for ya." She winked.
Nestling back onto the pillows, I felt my insides instantly go calm.
He was here.
He was waiting for me.
Keeping my eyes on the door, I nibbled my dry lip raw until I caught a flash of his scruffy brown locks. The tears could not be contained, they gently rolled down my cheeks as I saw him step towards me, his soft gaze filling me with such a strong sense of hope I could barely breathe.
He didn't say anything, just looked at my tears and started crying ones of his own. Our lips met in a shaky embrace that was tentative and sweet.
My Zach.
The nurse was right, everything was going to be okay.
*****
"Crocodiles?" Zach grinned, shaking his head.
I smiled at him, trying not to laugh. Laughing hurt too much. He held my hand, his thumb caressing my skin, jumping over the IV tube painfully protruding from my bony hand.
"So, you see, you have to keep telling me all your little stories. They might just come in handy one day." I bit my lip and closed my eyes as a wave of exhaustion swept over me. It had been three days since I was rushed into the hospital. I had been moved from ICU to a recovery ward this morning and was slowly regaining strength. My limbs still felt weak though and I couldn't ever imagine running again. The nurse chuckled when I told her that and patted my arm.
"The body is a miraculous thing. You'll be pounding the pavement before you know it."
Zach had cleared his throat at that, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. I'd given him a reassuring smile, promising not to leave him again. I hoped he could believe it. I had nothing to run from anymore. It was over.
A hard rock formed in my belly every time the realization hit. Thanks to that sharp piece of mirror, William Tenner would never be able to attack me again. It felt good and chilling all at the same time. I'd killed a human being.
"Are the police coming back again today?" I licked my dry lips and hoped they weren't. I was sick of trying to answer questions, especially when my brain still felt so fuzzy. Admitting who I really was to the Danville Sheriff had been terrifying.
"Not sure yet. I know the FBI want to come back again. Uncle Alex warned me they'll be heading this way soon."
I clutched his hand, my eyes shooting open.
"Hey, it's okay." He soothed. "Just tell them the truth. You're not the guilty party anymore, remember?"
"I tried to impersonate an FBI agent, I have stolen hundreds of dollars in the past five years. I killed a man, Zach. I'm guilty!"
Zach's expression softened. "That was self-defense and you know you could easily argue that all that other stuff was too. You were trying to survive."
I shook my head with a soft sigh, my fingers shaking as they rubbed my forehead.
"Hopefully they'll over look these misdemeanors considering the unique circumstances. Uncle Alex is pretty confident they're going to erase your last five years of criminal activity. What we're supplying them with will open up a huge ass can of worms that will bring down more than just Tenner."
I nodded, feeling sick.
"His family came to collect his body yesterday."
I flinched, a sharp breath shooting up my nose. I don't know what caused them, but tears sprung into my eyes. "I wanted to bring him to justice, not kill him."
Zach swallowed and slowly nodded.
Slipping my hand from his grasp, I rested it on my stomach, feeling dirty and ashamed.
Zach tried to reach for my hand again. "He deserved to die for what he did."
"Maybe. Or maybe he just deserved to go to prison for a really long time. Why did it have to be me? It's not fair that I have to carry this around now. He shouldn't have died by my hand."
"It's kind of like the circle of life." Zach shrugged.
I looked at his gentle smile, slightly confused by his answer.
"He killed your parents, you killed him. It's a form of justice, Lulu."
The nickname had just appeared in his vocabulary and I kind of liked it. It's what Dad used to call me.
I forced my head up and down, knowing Zach was right, but still hating the fact that I'd taken a life. Even if it was a filthy, greedy, evil life.
"So, what happens now?" I let my hand slip back into Zach's.
"Well, you let go of the past and start your life anew."
A breathy chuckle escaped my lips. "I don't know how to do that."