Second Chance

Fourteen: The Confession

Fourteen: The Confession

“Thank you, dear, for coming here.”

“Don’t worry about it. I had time so I came.” Ciara slung her bag over her shoulder. She smiled reassuringly at Mary one last time before exiting the room.

“Ciara!”

She stopped in her track and glanced over her shoulder. “Yes?”

Mary opened her mouth a few times. She shook her head slowly, and to Ciara’s surprise, Mary’s eyes watered. Ciara quickly rushed back to the room. “Are you hurt? Should I call the nurse?”

She quickly reached above the bed, but Mary stopped her before she could press the button.

“No, no, I’m fine. Never mind me. Things just suddenly hit me.”

Ciara relaxed slightly. “You’ll be fine. I -”

“No, I will not, but I already know that. Go, Ciara, before the nurse comes and annoys you with the hospital rules.”

A faint smile made its way to her lips. “Okay, take care, Mary.”

“Leaving?”

Her stomach fluttered, and she turned to see Jared entering the room. Her smile widened, but it quickly froze when she saw his bloodshot eyes. He’d told her yesterday that the doctor told him Mary won’t have much time left. She gently went up to him and cupped his cheek.

“Have you been sleeping late? Take care of yourself.” His gaze lowered. Ciara sighed. “Just don’t neglect your own health.

“Ciara, can you meet me there?”

Ciara followed his stare. The night wind blew in softly through the open window. She peered through the darkness. It was a coffee shop. For some reasons, everyone in the entire town loved coffee—the reason for the many coffee shops scattered across the town.

“I’ll be there.”

Jared entered the shop, his head twisted from side to side in search of her. Ciara raised her hand, and he quickly elbowed his way through the crowd of people, mumbling apologies as he came to her.

“Sorry, I wanted to stay till after she fell asleep.”

Ciara waved his apology off. “Is there a reason you wanted me to come here?”

Jared sighed and ran his hand through his hair. Ciara let concern seep into her expression. She didn’t have to know him to know that he was under a lot of pressure. She reached across the table and gently laid her hand on his.

“You can tell me anything.”

Ciara felt him clench his hand.

“We need to stop this.”

Ciara’s mind swirled. A sudden pang of uncontrollable horror entered the pit of her stomach. Her throat became dry. She was pretty sure he saw her pale. She cleared her throat. “Stop what?”

“I’ll be gone in a week.”

Ciara felt as if someone had punched her really hard in the guts. Her breath was knocked away from her. Her mind became blank. No, she did not want him to leave.

Why?

The question echoed in her mind. Flashbacks of yesterday came rushing to her. She was certain those emotions were genuine. She shook her head.

If that were the case, why did he even…?

“Why?”

“Ciara,” he said, his eyes pleading hers. Ciara roughly yanked her hand away from him. A bulge formed at the end of her throat, and she blinked away the few drops of treacherous tears.