Finally Free

twenty-five

Sage

I came inside not long ago. I have to finish looking over paperwork, confirming things. Marie is still here.

Val seems okay. We talked, I apologized. I do feel bad, she means a lot to me, I didn't want to hurt her.

She said she understands, that she's fine. I gave her a hug and she left.

As I sit here, no matter what I do, I can't get my mind off of Eden. I can't stop thinking about her with my brother.

I can't stop thinking maybe they aren't together, maybe they were just doing it to piss me off.

If that's the case, they succeeded.

Then I wonder how the hell my brother could possibly be alive. It makes no sense. I feel like I'm losing my mind. I'm certain I'm losing my mind.

Maybe I should check myself into an institution.

I hear a knock on the front door and reluctantly get up. Who could it possibly be.

I hear Marie open the door and ask the person what they're doing here as I leave my office.  I ask who it is and she doesn't answer.

I round the corner and I'm shocked by who I see.

Time seems to slow down as I see her in front of me.

Eden.

She's right there. On my doorstep.

I look at her, she looks so good. I know I saw her yesterday but, I can't get over it. She's gorgeous.

Then I notice she has her hands raised at her shoulders. Then I let my eyes drift to Marie, she's holding a gun.

I look back at Eden and I see a man standing behind a tree in the yard. I see an object in his hand but I'm too late to do anything.

I hear the gun fire, it rings through my ears.

I watch as Eden collapses, time seems to continue to move in slow motion. I'm at her side, holding her as she clutches her side.

Her eyes flutter, her hands covered in blood.

"I'm sorry." She says. I shake my head, yell at Marie to call 911. Val comes down, someone's on the phone.

"Eden, you're okay." I say shakily. "You're going to be okay." I run my hand through her hair. I try to soothe her, to calm her down.

I don't know who shot her.

I thought I got a good look, but it couldn't have been. It couldn't have been him. There's no way.

I cradle her and I her someone say an ambulance is on it's way.

I hold pressure on the wound as I feel her grow weaker in my arms.

"I'm sorry." She keeps repeating quietly. "They all need to know I'm sorry." I try to get her to stop but she doesn't hear me. She just keeps repeating it.

"Eden, please. You're going to be okay." I say. "Where's the damn ambulance!" I shout. It's taking too long. Way too long.

I can't lose her. Not like this.

We've done this too many times. I've almost lost her too many times. I can't do it. I can't.

I finally hear sirens in the distance and thank god for it. The ambulance pulls in too slowly. The paramedics get out too slowly. Walk up with the stretcher too slowly.

They stabilize her and get her onto the stretcher. I follow behind them and climb into the ambulance. I will not leave her alone. Not right now.

The ride to the hospital seems long. The paramedic trying to keep her alive, keep her breathing.