How to Save a Life by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke

Author:Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke [Fenton, Liz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-13T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

JUNE 11, 11:00 A.M.

THURSDAY #5

Another Thursday has joylessly arrived. Today, I observe Hailey slam the front door of her bungalow and stride toward her ancient Land Cruiser parked in the driveway.

She stops and stares out at the patch of sidewalk where Mia was struck and killed yesterday, and a chill runs through me. Does she carry a memory of what happened to Mia—even if in her world, which is Thursday, June 11, it didn’t happen? Even though Mia is still inside her house, alive and well? I know this because I texted her this morning. To check in. To be sure. But Mia told me she was leaving at eleven. That she had lunch plans. As I watch Hailey get into her truck and drive away, I flash to the memory of seeing her at the hospital yesterday after Mia was fatally hit right where I’m parked now. Hailey surged toward me in the hallway outside of Mia’s room in the trauma unit and pounded her fists against my chest, screaming that it was all my fault. That Mia wouldn’t have been crossing the street at the exact moment the SUV had sped down the block if I hadn’t insisted on coming by. That Mia should have listened to her—made me wait. Or better yet, not seen me at all. I stood there and let her hit me over and over, the nurse busying herself on the computer next to us, pretending she didn’t notice.

Tears streamed down Hailey’s freckled cheeks, and she looked so much like Mia in that moment that I had to turn away. And although intellectually I knew Mia would most likely wake up to another Thursday tomorrow, the ache in my heart was palpable. I pulled Hailey close to me and said I was sorry. That she was right: I was to blame. And I wasn’t merely placating her. Hailey yanked herself out of my grasp and pointed at me. “You broke her heart ten years ago, and then you came back into her life, and now she’s dead. Why did you have to come back?” She paused, looking at me. I stumbled, the truth in her accusations sending me off balance. My reconnection with Mia had killed her. “Did you find out she was in Oceanside, stake out the coffee shop you knew she’d be in?”

“How would I have known she was back?”

Hailey looked like she was going to say something but must have thought better of it. “Forget it. It’s not like yelling at you is going to bring her back.”

But she will be back, I wanted to say. Tomorrow.

She stormed away, and I stood in the doorway to Mia’s room, her lifeless body lying there, waiting to be taken away. I walked over and held her hand. “I’m so sorry, Mi. I’m going to figure out why this is happening, and I’m going to fix this.” I leaned down and kissed her on the top of her head and could smell the remnants of sunflowers.

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