The lights in the emergency room came on, then went out.
When I woke again, Elijah was sitting by the bed, his eyes rimmed red.
The moment I opened mine, he was overjoyed.
"Sweetheart, you're finally awake."
"I'm sorry. I really never thought you'd fall so badly. Does anything else hurt? Is your stomach still in pain?"
My throat was painfully dry. Without thinking, I lifted a hand to my belly.
Only once I felt the baby was still there did the fear finally let go of me.
Elijah held me tight and lowered his voice.
"Sweetheart, if you're not seriously hurt, maybe... you could go apologize to Jenny."
"Ever since she found out she kissed me that day, she's been blaming herself. She won't accept treatment, won't eat. The doctor says her mood is very bad, she might be heading toward depression."
"She's your best friend. Just go apologize, tell her you don't hold it against her. Okay?"
For a second I honestly wondered if I'd misheard.
How could he...
How could he leave me on the floor where I'd fallen, offer not one word of explanation, not one trace of guilt, and instead ask me to apologize to the woman he'd been carrying on with?
I pushed him away with everything I had. A faint taste of blood spread through my mouth. My voice came out cold.
"She stopped being my best friend a while ago. Whether she lives or dies has nothing to do with me."
"Beryl!"
Elijah stared at me, unable to believe it.
"How did you get so cold?"
"I know you mind that she likes me, but feelings aren't something she can control."
"I promise you, once she's better, I'll keep my distance. I won't give her any hope. I'll make her let go of me for good."
"For now, just humor her, give in a little. Is that so much to ask?"
I lifted my eyes and looked at him without moving.
I tried to lay this man over the teenage boy in my memory.
No matter how I tried, the two wouldn't line up.
Those eyes that had once been so full of me had gone empty somewhere along the way, and I didn't know when.
Just then a nurse came hurrying over.
"Mr. Delgado, Miss Gomez in the next room still won't take her medicine!"
Elijah's face changed at once. He barely hesitated. He grabbed my wrist and dragged me straight off the bed, hauling me into the next room.
A hard thud.
My body was too weak, my legs buckled, and I dropped heavily to my knees on the cold floor.
On the bed, Jeanette watched me quietly from under the gauze wrapped around her forehead.
I tried to get up, humiliated, but there was no strength left in me.
Elijah was already at Jeanette's side, coaxing her softly.
"Jenny, be good. Take your medicine."
"Beryl already knows she was wrong. She doesn't hold that day against you. Stop torturing yourself."
I didn't have the energy to argue. There was only exhaustion left, not even the will to fight it.
In ten more days I'd be gone anyway.
A flash of triumph crossed Jeanette's eyes, then she dropped her gaze, her voice soft and frail.
"Beryl, as long as you're not angry with me, that's all that matters."
Then she looked at Elijah, half-scolding.
"And you, really. Beryl's hurt this badly and you're still making her stand? If anything happens to my dear friend, I'll never forgive you."
At that, Elijah turned at once and helped me up, a doting edge to his mouth.
"All right, all right, my little tyrant, whatever you say. Now will you take your medicine like a good girl?"
The moment he had me steady, he let go and turned back to sit at Jeanette's bedside.
He picked up the bowl of medicine, blew on it patiently, and spooned it to her lips one mouthful at a time.
Jeanette refused to cooperate on purpose.
Elijah showed not a trace of impatience, only coaxed her over and over in a low voice.
My body swayed a little.
I didn't like taking medicine either.
Every time I got sick, Elijah used to keep watch by my bed just like this, feeding me patiently.
Back then he'd always tease me with a grin.
"Sweetheart, if you don't take your medicine, I'll drink it myself and feed it to you mouth to mouth."
Every time, I'd flush red and drink it all down.
But now he narrowed his eyes and threatened Jeanette, indulgent.
"What, you won't take it unless I feed it to you myself?"
I couldn't stay another moment. I turned and walked, step by step, back toward my room.
I was going to get well.
I was going to bring my baby safely into the world.
As for whatever was between the two of them, I didn't want any part of it anymore.
The moment I got back to my room, the nurse asked me carefully.
"Ms. Simmons, that man next door... is he your husband?"
I answered softly, before I could think.
"Not for much longer."
"Sweetheart, what do you mean?"
Elijah had followed at some point, and his steps stopped dead in the doorway.
He stared at me, blank, a flicker of panic and shock rising in his eyes.
