AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We were at the Cowboys’ game when it happened. My phone died on the way there.”
“Those two things make absolutely no difference on the outcome of what happened,” John told him.
But they do. Because if I had been home and Graham showed up, I would’ve been the one to take him home. Or if I went to the game, my phone was charged, and I knew he was there, I would’ve called Jasper to do it. It shouldn’t have been her. Not Ali.Cornell frowned in thought.
“I can hear the guilt spilling out of you,” John said. “Unnecessary guilt. Accidents happen. If you tell Ali that, and I tell Ali that, we should believe it ourselves.”
Cornell knew that was true. He wasn’t doing Ali any favors thinking about all the coulda, woulda, shoulda. There were plenty of other things to think about—like the wills.
John stood. “We’ll all feel better with some sleep. If you’re getting on the road tomorrow and going back to work, you definitely need it.”
Reaching for the empty glass, Cornell’s hand stopped mid-air when he heard it rooms away—a scream that penetrated the walls, his ears, and heart.
Ali was screaming.
Cornell hopped off the couch with light and quick feet, and out the door of the study. Ali’s screaming grew louder with each step, and in the dark house, Cornell stubbed his toe on the coffee table of the living room and nearly knocked a dining room chair over without giving pause—nothing could have stopped him from reaching her.
The door was still ajar, but Cornell swung it wide open, turning the light on. His eyes flew to the bed—where he had left Ali peacefully sleeping—but she wasn’t there. The sound was amplified, and Cornell climbed onto the bed, finding her sandwiched in the corner of the room between the long window curtains and the nightstand.
“No, no, no, no,” she repeated. Ali’s voice was a cocktail of sobs, screams, and cries of pain as she rocked furiously back and forth, her arms upward, crossed above her head like she was trying to hide—or protect herself.
Cornell hopped off the bed and sank to his knees. “Ali!” He wanted his voice to be gentle and soft so he didn’t scare her more. But her name was a yell because Cornell was desperate for her to stop—not just because her cries broke him, but for her as well. She’s gotta be hurting so bad all folded up like that.
Cornell reached for her arm. But Ali flinched from his touch and bellowed more.
“It’s me, it’s me,” Cornell told her firmly, rescinding his hand. “It’s a dream, Ali. Wake up.” The self-restraint Cornell had to exercise was torturous. Every fiber of his body ached to hold Ali, squeeze her tightly until she came out on the other side. It was a battle his brain won, but not without loss. Agony and helplessness seized Cornell so strongly it nearly knocked him back.
“Keep talking to her,” John finally said from the doorway, just loud enough for Cornell to hear above Ali’s hysteria.
“Ali,” Cornell repeated, “it’s just a dream. Everything is okay. You’re okay.” The words were so wrong. She wasn’t okay, not in the least, but Cornell was at a complete loss. It was like John had said. He kept repeating it—you’re okay—partly because he didn’t know what else to say and partly because he was trying to will himself to believe it.
Ali’s screams turned into short, panicked breaths, but she still didn’t look at him.
“You had an accident. You were in the hospital, but now you’re home. You’re in Fort Worth. I’m here with you.” Cornell’s hand involuntarily flexed, and he bit his cheek, willing the strength to hold back. “Ali? Do you hear me?”
“I called. I called you,” she said hoarsely. “I called you.”
God damn.
Cornell shut his eyes in a painful grimace. “I’m sorry. I was just in the study—”
“I called you before, and your phone was off.” Ali dropped her arms, her head shooting up to look at him. Her bottom lip trembled as if the words it was supporting weighed a ton. “I knew it was off, but I called you.”
It was a knife to the heart—pointy, sharp, and serrated—tearing flesh from flesh.
“Ali… ” I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. “I’m here now. I’m so sorry. I’m with you now.”
The brown eyes before him glistened with tears. So many tears. And one by one, the drops began to fall down Ali’s red cheeks, to her mouth, half-open in shock and confusion. Cornell couldn’t take it. He reached out, giving one of her cheeks a heavy but gentle swipe. As if Ali’s tears didn’t sting him enough, the small raise of her shoulders was a blow to Cornell’s chest.
Ali began to cry again, but with a distinct difference. This time it was from pain.
“Get her on the bed,” John said. “Let me go get her another dose.”
Carefully, Cornell reached out, wrapping an arm around her. “You’re here,” she said, as if she were both elated and hurt by his presence, completely oblivious to the minutes just earlier.
“You had a bad dream.” Cornell stood, pulling Ali with him. “Let me help you back in bed.”
Ali breathed heavily. “It hurts.”
