It feels like only minutes later, Colton is pulling up in front of the hospital so I can climb out.
“I’ll park and meet you inside.”
“No, no. You two can go. I’ll be fine.”
Totally ignoring my words, Rylee pushes the door open and steps out beside me. “I’ll message you where we are.”
Colton nods before she closes the door and links her arm through mine.
I walk into that hospital not knowing if my aunt is dead or alive. She’s here, under this roof, with terminal cancer. Nothing good is coming out of this, but just how bad is it?
Seeing as I cut the woman off on the phone before I had a chance to find out where she is, we have to stop by reception to find out. But in only moments, Rylee has me in the elevator and we’re riding to the fourth floor.
“You don’t have to do this.”
“I know, but I want to.”
“Hi, I’m here for Mrs. Winslow,” I say to the nurse who’s sitting behind the desk when we walk into the ward.
“Perfect timing, the doctor is just with her. I’m assuming you’re…” She looks down at her computer. “Harlow?”
“Yes.”
“Please follow me.”
“I’ll wait here,” Rylee says, pointing to a couple of chairs.
“You can go, it’s okay.”
“No. I’ll call Bailey too.”
“Thank you,” I mouth as I rush behind the nurse to find out what’s going on.
It’s not the first time I’ve seen my aunt hooked up to machines in a hospital bed, but unlike previously, this time I have no idea if she’ll get through it.
“Your aunt had a severe seizure. She was very lucky that it happened while she was in the garden and her neighbor saw her.”
Guilt slams into me. I should have been there. I should have been keeping an eye on her, but I was enjoying myself with Corey.
“She was unconscious when the paramedics got to her. There are no guarantees with anything here, Ms…”
“Harlow.”
“Harlow,” the doctor nods. “But with your aunt’s medical history and the progression of her disease, I would be surprised if she recovers from this. It’s still early days, but the signs aren’t good. I’m so sorry.”
A sob rumbles up my throat as I stare at her looking old, weak and tiny in the hospital bed.
“C-can I sit with her?”
“Of course. Take all the time you need. Call if you need anything.”
He points to a red button that I glance at, and after a few seconds he completes the notes he was writing when I entered and leaves me to it.
Blowing out a shaky breath, I pull the empty chair closer to my aunt’s side. I find her hand that’s resting on top of the stark white sheet and take it in mine. It’s cold and, I swear, thinner than the last time I held it.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper around the ball of emotion clogging my throat.
I’d told her time and time again that I’d move in. That I’d keep an eye on her and make sure she had everything she needed. But she always refused. And I let her. I should have pushed it further. I should have been there. It shouldn’t have been down to the neighbors to rescue her.
What if she weren’t in the garden?
A sob hits me at the thought. If I forgot to ring and check on her at lunch and then got distracted by Corey after work. I might not have touched base with her today… and she’d have been…
I lose my fight with my tears and drop my forehead to her shoulder as I cry.
I knew this day was coming. I thought I’d somewhat prepared myself for it. But I didn’t realize that nothing could possibly compare to this agonizing moment. She’s all the family I’ve got left, and there is literally nothing I can do to save her right now. No amount of money in the world would be able to keep her here with me.
It would be selfish to even try.
She’s made her wishes very clear from the first time she was diagnosed. When her time came, she wanted to go with dignity. I agreed—what else could I do? But I never could have imagined back then what this moment would feel like, knowing that she’s slipping away from me.
The minutes pass with the beeping of the machines around me and my aunt’s seemingly shallowing breaths.
I forget about everything else, about Corey’s anger, about work and the charity gala, and just focus on this moment, hoping like hell that she knows that I’m here, that I’m supporting her in the only way that I can.
Nurses come and go, checking her vitals, but none of them give me any kind of indication that things are improving. With each visit, any hope I had that the doctor might have been wrong starts to dwindle away until all that’s left is despair.
“Harlow.” The sound of my name barely registers, and it’s not until I’m physically pulled from the chair and into my best friend’s arms that I realize I’m no longer alone. “I’m so sorry it took me so long to get here,” she whispers into my ear, and she holds me.
“She’s… she’s going, B.”
“I know, honey. I know.”
When we part, Bailey’s cheeks are almost as tear-stained as mine.
She takes my face in her hands and stares into my eyes. “It’s going to be okay.”
I nod at her. I know she’s not trying to tell me that my aunt will be okay, no one can do that, but she’s telling me that I’m strong enough, that I can do this and survive.
Bailey drags over the other chair in the room so she can sit beside me.
“Here, it’s got all the extras. Thought you could probably use them.” She hands me a Starbucks cup that I didn’t even realize she’d brought in with her.
“Thank
