The Day Our Promise Breaks

Chapter 532

She couldn't hold on much longer.

Just holding Sandy's hand seemed to drain all her strength. As she looked down at the girl, Sandy's hand slipped weakly from her grasp.

Sandy's lips, pale as porcelain, trembled.

She was so exhausted that when she tried to speak, her voice came out as nothing more than a whisper-soft enough that the nurse could barely hear her.

Even though she'd never liked this child, seeing her so close to death stirred something inside her a flicker of compassion.

Leaning down, the nurse softened her tone. "What is it, sweetheart? Is there something you want to tell me?"

Sandy drew a shallow, ragged breath, struggling to form a sentence.

"Nurse... could you send a text to my dad? Tell him..." She paused, fighting for air. "Tell him I really am dying this time. I want to see him... just one last time... I really want to..."

The effort of speaking seemed to sap the last of Sandy's strength.

Her breathing grew even fainter.

She looked at the nurse, pleading with her eyes.

It was a dying wish-one the nurse couldn't bear to refuse. She nodded gently.

"All right, sweetheart. I'll send it right now."

Sandy wanted to say thank you, but she didn't have the strength. Her lips moved silently, mouthing, "Thank you, nurse."

The nurse felt her throat tighten.

She knew Sandy couldn't last much longer. The only thing keeping her going was the hope of seeing her father.

Maybe that hope was all she had left.

Using the number Dahlia had dialed earlier, the nurse carefully typed out Sandy's words-every one of them—and sent the message to Charles.

Once she pressed send, she brought the phone close to Sandy's face and said softly, "It's sent, honey."

Sandy's vision was already blurred, but hearing the nurse's words, her lips moved in a faint response.

She stared at the screen, unable to see anything, but unwilling to look away. She wanted to see her father's reply right away, if it came.

for a

No reply ever came.

yet. I'll call him for you, okay?" The nurse couldn't stand it.

the call was

only to

the nurse, and she could hear

began to tremble, and tears blurred

her father that she

never see

drew near, Sandy's mind played back every memory of Charles's love for

all the little things-proof that her father had

once.

she'd let

he wouldn't even come

She regretted it all.

she'd gotten along with Charlie maybe she could have stayed, could

thought of

father-he'd loved her dearly, and she hadn't cherished that

Maybe, if

kind,

just been honest

up whether

or with Wesley.

now, that chance was

down her

at Dahlia, standing a few steps

wasn't looking at her.

grim,

thoughts-she didn't

moved, mouthing

Dahlia didn't

end that Sandy had to admit her mother had never

Not ever.

came faster, blurring

her final moments, Sandy stared at the closed

life ebbed away,

final thought was the message she'd asked the nurse to send