Every Heart (Every Soul #2)
L.K. Collins
For my Father, thank you for always loving me and supporting me.
“How are you feeling?” a nurse asks me.
Looking around the desolate hospital room, that’s a loaded question.
“I’m not sure how to answer that.”
“Physically, Mr. Wilcox?” she asks in her thick, German accent.
“I’m okay, better than I’ve been for about the last year.”
“Good, well, keep resting. You’re healing well. Your family should be here any time.”
Looking at her long, blonde hair as she leaves the room, it reminds me of Arion. I can’t help but feel happy, knowing soon she’ll be here. I’ve been waiting so long to see her, to hear her voice, to touch her. Finally, today is that day. My eyes are heavy…I’m still so tired all the time and don’t have the strength to do much. So I take the nurse’s advice and close them, envisioning my parents and my girl.
Soon, I’m awakened by a familiar touch and a voice I know all too well. Smiling to myself, I open my eyes to see both of my parents. They’re crying, looking down at me, and it kills me that my decisions have done this to them and our family.
“Oh, Nate,” my mom says basically throwing herself at me. Reaching up despite my weakness, I wrap an arm around her. Feeling her again brings tears to my eyes. Glancing at my dad, he has a hand on my arm, red faced, and is just staring at me. I reach for his hand, and am so grateful that they are here. They traveled halfway across the world to be with me. Closing my eyes, I take everything in. But one person is missing.
Arion is not with them and as my mom pulls away, I can’t help but watch the door, waiting for her to come running to me. “How are you?” my dad asks me, leaning down to hug me.
“I’m better, but still feeling pretty rough.”
“You’re so skinny,” my mom says, gripping my hand.
“I know, Ma.”
“But you’re alive, and that’s all that matters.”
“Yes, it is,” my dad adds. Pulling one of my hands away for a brief second, I wipe my eyes.
“How much do you know?” I ask them, wondering how forthcoming the military was with giving them information.
“We didn’t know anything ’til we landed. On the drive over here, they told us what you’ve been through. I’m so sorry, Nate.”
“It’s okay, Dad, I survived. Only for you guys and Arion.”
Bringing up her name puts a cloud over the room. I can tell both of my parents’ attitudes change right away. They glance at each other, then nervously look around the room like the hospital equipment is interesting. They are looking everywhere except at me.
“Where is she?” I ask point blank, not able to stand it any longer that she hasn’t come through the door.
“I’m sorry. She’s not coming, son,” my dad says.
Both fear and pain take over, almost crippling me, as I run through all of the reasons why she might not be here. My chest tightens and I ask, “Did something happen to her?”
“Oh God, no,” my mom blurts out. “She’s okay, Nate, it’s just…”
She trails off without finishing her sentence and puts her head down. I look at my dad hoping for the answers. I need to know why in God’s name my fiancée isn’t here.
“Dad?” I ask in a pleading tone after he doesn’t say anything. I’m about to beg him to tell me when he says the worst words in the world.
“She’s moved on, son,” he says with tears in his eyes.
Agony takes over, almost paralyzing my heart. Never in a million years did I dream of hearing the news that she moved on. Never. Day in and day out, being chained like a pig and the thought never crossed my mind. Tears spill over and I look between my parents, my vision blurred.
“Why?” I ask, clenching my jaw.
My dad pulls a chair up and sits next to me. “She thought you were dead. The military told us long ago that you died in a roadside bombing.”
“Will you excuse me?” my mom asks and gets up from the chair she’s sitting in.
My dad asks her, “Are you okay, honey?”
She nods her head and walks away. I notice how frail she is and she’s using a cane. “What’s wrong with Mom?” I ask my dad, immediately alarmed.
“She has a lot of things going on right now, Nate.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” I ask him, panicked.
“We wanted to wait to tell you, ’til you were feeling stronger.”
“No, Dad, tell me now.”
“I’m afraid your mother’s been dealing with some serious health issues.”
“Like what? Just tell me dammit,” I say aggravated that he won’t let me in on what’s going on with my mom. “I can handle it.”
“It’s a lot to take in, so don’t freak out. As of now, she’s been diagnosed with MS and Aplastic Anemia, which is a rare blood disorder.”
“Oh my God, what does that mean?” I ask whispering.