DON’T STOP (Lila and Darrell) novel Chapter 79

Chapter 79

Chapter 79

Bella

I did not remember how we got to the hospital.

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One moment I was screaming in the blood-filled street, my hands shaking as I held onto my mother’s bloodied shoulders, and the next I was running through bright white corridors that smelled of antiseptic and something metallic and cold Darrell was beside me the entire time. I don’t remember grabbing his hand, but at some point my fingers had locked around his sleeve as if he were the only solid thing left in the world.

They let me see her.

She was so pale.

Machines surrounded her. The steady beeping was the only thing convincing the she was still here. I rushed to her bedside. my knees hitting the metal rail as I leaned over her.

Mom,” I whispered, but it came out broken. “Mom, I’m here. I’m here.”

Her eyelids fluttered slowly, heavily, like they weighed too much for her to lift. When her eyes finally found me, they oftened. Even in that condition, she looked at me like I was still her little girl.

Bella…” Her voice was thin. Fragile.

gripped her hand. It felt colder than it should have. “Stay with me. Please. Please don’t close your eyes. Don’t leave me. I’m orry. I’m so sorry for ignoring you all this while. I was stupid. I was angry. I didn’t mean it. Please forgive me. Please don’t go.”

The words tumbled out uncontrollably. I could not breathe properly between them.

She gave the faintest smile and lifted her trembling hand to my cheek. Her fingers brushed my face slowly, lovingly, as if nemorizing it.

I never… put it in mind,” she murmured. “You are my daughter. I love you. I always loved you.”

My chest broke open. I bent over her, crying into her hospital gown.

she shifted her gaze slightly past me. I turned and saw Darrell standing a few steps away. His posture was straight and

espectful. When her eyes met his, he gave a small bow of greeting.

Who?” she breathed.

wiped my tears with the back of my hand. “Mom. that’s my professor.”

She looked back at me, something understanding passing through her tired eyes. Then she looked at him agaus, and I saw the faintest approval there. It hurt in a way I could not describe.

Her fingers on my cheek grew weaker.

“Stay strong,” she whispered. “For me.”

I nodded frantically. “I will. I promise Just don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me.”

Her hand slipped from my face. Her eyes closed.

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7:49 am P PPP

Chapter 79

the monitor flatlined

I screantred.

They pulled me away. I fought them, clawing, crying, and begging, but they took her away from me anyway bette came around me from behind, strong and steady, holding me as my legs gave out Lapsed against his chest witting wi hard 1 couldn’t breathe.

She was gone.

My only family.

Gone

They took her to the hospital morgue. I sat outside the cold steel door on a plastic chair, staring at the floor tiles unlimry vision blurred. Darrell stayed beside me the whole time-silent, hand resting on my back, not pushing, just there

When they finally let me see her one last time, I broke again. I climbed onto the table beside her body wrappert my arms around her, and cried into her shoulder like I was five years old again. She was cold. So cold. I begged her to wake up I begged her to forgive me again. I begged her to stay.

She didn’t.

Hours later, when they wheeled her away for good, something inside me snapped.

I told Darrell I needed air. I told him to leave me alone for a minute.

He hesitated, his eyes worried, but he nodded and stepped back.

I walked out to the hospital veranda on the third floor. The railing was low. The drop was high. The city lights glittered far below like fallen stars.

I climbed up.

I stood on the edge, toes curled over the concrete lip, wind whipping my hair. Tears streamed endlessly I hit my chest hard several times trying to make the pain inside match the pain outside.

I didn’t want to live without her.

I didn’t want to breathe if she couldn’t.

I leaned forward.

And then arms wrapped around my waist from behind-strong, desperate.

Darrell yanked me back, dragging me down to the safe side of the railing We both tell onto the com rete floor und thap the held me tight against his chest, breathing hard

“What the hell are you doing?” he shouted, voice cracking with fear and anger “Why would you do that? Why would to kill yourself?”

I sobbed into his shirt, fists pounding weakly against hum “She’s gone My mom is gone Shes all 1 had I dont care anymore I don’t want to be here without her”

He cupped my face and forced me to look at him. His eyes were wet, red-mined

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