6
Nurse Chloe opened the door, her face etched
<
My face was pale. “If I say no, can I skip the
IV?”
“Nope.”
“…Then I’m fine.”
Sean didn’t show up again after that. I enjoyed
a week of peace.
SIL
Natalie visited often. We didn’t talk much, both
afraid of touching a raw nerve, but it was comfortable.
I kept asking her to sneak in junk food, but
Nurse Chloe always caught us, confiscating my
contraband.
I was speechless.
Christmas was getting closer. Nurse Chloe
confided, “It’s getting colder!”
<
I chuckled. “‘Tis the season to be freezin‘.”
I huffed, checking the time. I had to get back to
my room soon or Nurse Chloe would lecture me
again.
Turning too quickly, I bumped into someone. Dizzy, I stumbled back, apologizing profusely. “Sorry, so sorry.”
Rubbing my forehead, I tried to walk around
him, but he grabbed my arm.
“Claire Elizabeth Walker!” Sean’s face loomed
in front of me again. If it wasn’t so cold, I
would’ve slapped him.
“What?!” I glared at him defiantly.
He looked rougher than the last time I saw him,
unshaven and haggard.
<
3:23
Girlfriend dumped you?” I couldn’t resist the
sarcasm.
88
Strangely, he didn’t retort. He just stared at me.
I shivered, rolled my eyes, and started walking
back to my room.
“Claire.”
I jumped back a foot. “What?!”
He hadn’t called me Claire in ages. The familiarity in his voice was unsettling.
A flicker of awkwardness crossed his face. “You’re sick? Why didn’t you tell me?”
My mind raced. “Why would I tell you?”
We stood in silence.
“We were…married, at least.”
<
3:23
I scoffed. “Don’t even go there. The biggest regret of my life is being married to you. Just like we agreed, I left Chicago. Go live your life
and leave me alone!”
I turned to leave, but Sean followed me.
Maybe it was seeing Sean so often, but I
couldn’t sleep that night. Checking the
calendar, I saw it was Nurse Chloe’s shift, so I
grabbed my IV pole and wandered out.
Opening the door to the common area, I was
startled by a figure huddled on the couch.
As I walked closer, the moonlight revealed Sean’s face.
I nudged him awake. “What are you doing here?”
He blinked sleepily, not at all annoyed. “Where
are you going? Are you feeling okay?”
My throat tightened. “I’ll feel a lot better if you
disappear.”
He rubbed his face. “I’m not leaving. I finally
found you.”
“And what do you want?”
He didn’t answer. I didn’t want to stand there
arguing with him.
“Go away, or I’ll report you for loitering!”
I left him there and went to watch TV with Nurse Chloe.
During a commercial break, she leaned in. “That guy was standing outside your door for a long time today. Just watching. He didn’t come in.”
I figured that was when I was asleep. I’d assumed he’d left after I brushed him off. I didn’t realize he’d come back.
目
<
“Just ignore him. He’ll go away eventually.”
With a warm home, a thriving business, and a girlfriend…Sean, always the pragmatist,
wouldn’t stick around long when all I offered was coldness.
“He asked to see your medical records…”
I frowned but said nothing.
“I didn’t give them to him. But someone else
might. He said he’s your husband.”
I panicked. “That needs to be cleared up! We’re
exes! Ex–husband and ex–wife!”
“I don’t know if he’s here because he cares or
because he’s after my money.”
Nurse Chloe instantly became protective.
glancing behind me. “What are you doing?!”
<
I turned and almost had a heart attack. “Why
are you following me?!”
Sean’s face was dark. “It’s not about the
money.”
I sighed, looking at the ceiling. “If it’s not about the money. then what is it about?”
I dragged him back to my room and sat cross- legged on the bed, facing him.
7
“Fine, you win. Happy now?”
“What do you want from me? How much
money? Name your price.”
Sean silently tucked my hand under the covers.
then reached for my IV line, a strange smile on his face. “Get some sleep, okay?”
<
88
“Don’t do this,” I waved him away. “Just draw
up a transfer agreement for the house. I’ll sign it. Then you disappear. Deal?”
Sean gritted his teeth. “Claire Elizabeth Walker,
your mouth is going to be the death of me.”
I scoffed. “Sorry, but I’ll probably be dead before you.”
It was like a switch flipped. Sean’s tears started flowing.
“I’m not dead yet! Why the crocodile tears?” | waved a hand in front of his face, feeling a tightness in my chest.
“Claire, I regret everything. Don’t scare me like
this, okay?” Sean’s eyes were red as he
reached out and hooked his pinky finger around mine.
fre. I was a sucGI
When ever be free rema
he had to do was sit in front of me, 100
Get out!” kicked him, fuy surging throug
I hated how he’d rever
to charm me, only to hurt me again with those
I
same innocent eyes once I forgave him.
I hated myself even more for always falling for
Sean stood up, looking heartbroken. “I’ll be right outside. If you…need me, call me, okay?”
