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“No. You can’t tell me that I can’t say that. When I first told you that I loved you, there hasn’t been a single day that has gone by that I haven’t told you—not one day. And I will keep telling you every day whether you want to hear it or not. I won’t kiss, hug, or reach for your hand if you don’t want me to, but you will not take those words away from me. I’ll see you in the morning.” He walked out of the room.
“Conner, wait!” I shouted.
He walked back into the room and stared at me from a distance.
“You say you love me, right?”
“Yes. Of course, I do.” He walked over to my bed.
“Then you have to try and understand what I’m going through. I’m me, ten years ago. You’re saying I’ve changed, and maybe I have. But I don’t know that right now, and I need you to understand that. The twenty-four-year-old me doesn’t trust. She keeps herself locked up because she’s too afraid to let anyone in because of what happened to her.”
“Charlotte.” His eyes filled with sadness as he held out his hand. “Please. Trust me.”
I stared at his hand for a moment as a tear fell from my eye. Reaching over, I placed my hand in his as he gently squeezed it.
“I will help you try to piece the last ten years together. There’s nothing I won’t do to make you feel safe again.”
“I just need time,” I softly spoke.
“I know you do, and I understand. I’ll see you in the morning.”
After he left, I picked up my phone, tapped the photos app, and quickly shut it. I wasn’t ready to see the life I’d left behind.
CHAPTER17
Charlotte
The following morning, my nurse came in and told me that they were processing my discharge. Around eight a.m., Conner walked into the room with a smile on his face.
“Good morning,” he said. “I brought your favorite maxi dress to go home in.” He pulled it from the bag and held it up.
My brow arched as I stared at it. “That’s my favorite?”
“Yeah. It is.” The corners of his mouth curved upward. “They’re processing your discharge right now. I’ll step out of the room and let you get changed.”
“Thanks.”
I sat on the edge of the bed, took off my gown, and slipped on the maxi dress Conner brought for me.
“Are you decent?” I heard from the doorway.
“Yeah. You can come in. Did you bring shoes?”
“Of course.” He smiled as he reached into the bag and pulled them out.
“Let me guess. My favorite sandals?”
“I don’t know if they’re your favorite, but they’re the only ones you’ll wear with that dress.”
“Can you put them on for me? It’s kind of hard to bend still.”
“You bet.” The corners of his mouth curved upward.
“I heard someone is leaving us today.” Charleigh smiled as she pushed a wheelchair into the room. “I will be your personal chauffeur to the car.”
“I’ll go pull the car around to the front,” Conner said as he grabbed my bag.
Charleigh took hold of my arm and helped me into the wheelchair.
