Chapter 12
I figured I would just finish the drip and head out, but before I could, the doctor walked in. Just like that, he hit me with the classic three–question horror sequence.
“You’re here alone? Where’s your family? How many times has this happened?”
My stomach dropped. “Doctor, don’t do this to me. Just tell me how long I have left.”
I waited for him to crack a smile, maybe even roll his eyes and say I was overthinking. However, his face was all serious, his tone edged with helplessness. “You should call your family.”
Family?
Yeah, I didn’t exactly have any family.
My parents divorced when I was in middle school. Both were loaded, but neither was interested in keeping me. I always told
myself I had the kind of freedom other kids would kill for.
I had a crush on Yannick for years but never dared to say a word. I told myself unspoken love was the best kind—because it let me
dream endlessly.
But now?
There was no more pretending this was some cosmic gift. I had not even started living yet, I had not traveled the world, and I had
not checked a million things off my list.
I had not been loved.
Tears poured down my face, hot and endless. Then, someone suddenly yelled at me, “Yulia!”
Through the blur, I saw him–Yannick.
Out of breath and panicking, he wrapped his arms around me like he was afraid I would disappear.
He kissed me again and again.
“You’re late,” I choked out.
I had always been tough and all alone. Now? Now, I could barely get the words out without breaking.
“Sorry, sorry!” He gasped, still breathless. “As a first–time dad, I got too excited and crashed my car. Then, the cops stopped me
Wait.
Dad?
Crashed?
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Chapter 12
