Chapter Seventy Four

Strong arms hugged her, drawing her away from the unfolding scene. The prick of a needle pierced her skin as the nurses administered a sedative. She could feel herself drifting into oblivion as the world blurred before her.

♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎

Upon awakening, the sterile smell of the hospital overwhelmed Emma's nostrils. Lucas stood by her bedside, fretful and relieved.

“You're awake,” he whispered, gingerly brushing her clammy skin.

“He's dead... because of me,” Emma croaked, silent tears cascading down her cheeks, accusing herself.

Lucas held her tightly, providing wordless solace as she wept into his shoulder, each sob wracking her body.

She cried until her tears ran dry until the nurses returned with another dose of sedative. As the medication dragged her back into the abyss, the weight of her culpability bore down on her, unrelenting and suffocating.

When she woke again, the throbbing in her head had faded to a distant pang, but the emptiness persisted, a void that threatened to consume her