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Chapter 6
As soon as the emcee’s words landed, every eye in the church turned to Nina.
She stood frozen, too stiff to move, too stunned to breathe.
Then, right on cue, her phone rang.
“Sorry,” she mumbled. “I have to take this.”
She grabbed the phone and rushed out of the chapel like her life depended on it. Only after she stepped outside did she answer the call.
“Ms. Carter,” came the calm voice on the other end. “We’re confirming your preference for the procedure. Would you like intravenous
or oral administration?”
Nina shut her eyes. “Injection.”
She’d endured enough bitterness in her life. No need to end it tasting more.
As she hung up and turned to leave, she nearly jumped at the sight of Julian standing behind her.
“I’ll drive you back.”
The ride to the hotel was silent. Not awkward–just empty.
When the car stopped, Nina reached for the door, but Julian grabbed her wrist gently.
“There’s a fountain over there,” he said. “Let me take a better photo of you.”
She almost said no. Almost. But the words stuck.
They walked over, and just as Julian raised his phone, he spoke again, “Actually, Samantha asked me to retake it. She felt bad for interrupting last time.”
Nina stiffened. “So?”
He paused, his eyes unreadable. “She doesn’t know about us. Please don’t take it out on her.”
So that’s what this was about.
Not guilt. Not care.
He was just afraid she’d make trouble for Samantha.
Her chest felt tight. “I won’t,” she said quietly.
Julian didn’t answer. He snapped the photo, then walked her to the hotel entrance.
snap
“Last time Samantha and I came to Aspenridge, we stayed at this hotel,” Julian said as they waited for the elevator. “She wasn’t feeling well then, and this place has an in–house medical center. That’s why I chose this place.”
His tone softened, full of concern.
“Ding.”
The elevator arrived. Nina stepped inside without a word.
The doors slid shut.
As the numbers lit up one by one, her body swayed. She reached for the wall to steady herself.
A warm wetness pooled on her hand.
Blood.
Back in her room, she grabbed the pill bottle, tipping out the last two tablets. She swallowed them dry and waited for the bleeding to
stop.
Half an hour later, she finally felt steady enough to wash her face.
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When she returned to the bed, a notification lit up her phone.
“Your birthday’s tomorrow. Want to see what the last two years looked like?”
It was from her cloud album.
She tapped it.
The screen filled with an old photo–taken on her birthday two years ago.
She was in the center, glowing in the candlelight, flanked by her parents and Julian. Everyone was smiling. She looked like a girl who
had it all.
Tears slipped down silently.
Then came the doorbell.
Nina wiped her eyes and opened the door.
Julian stood there.
Under the dim hallway lights, he looked just like the man in the photo. But reality crashed back the moment she saw Samantha standing beside him.
Her fingers clenched around the doorknob.
“What are you doing here?”
Samantha smiled, holding up a small cake and leaning sweetly into Julian’s side.
“We just found out your birthday’s tomorrow. It didn’t feel right having you help with the wedding and not acknowledging it, so… surprise!”
Nina’s stomach turned at the sight of the frosted cake. Since chemo, greasy sweets made her nauseous.
“Thanks, but I-”
Before she could finish, Julian took the cake and placed it in her hands.
“Samantha picked it out herself. Don’t waste it.”
Nina froze, her eyes meeting Julian’s unyielding gaze. In the end, she took the cake.
One bite in, the greasy sweetness coated her tongue. Her fingers tightened around the fork as nausea swelled in her chest.
Still, she forced a smile. “It’s… good. Thank you.”
Samantha beamed. “Right? Julian took me all over town just to find the perfect bakery. He’s actually really romantic, once you get to know him. The wedding cake’s from the same place. And get this–he even bought out the city’s entire supply of baby’s breath for the ceremony. And the ring? Custom–designed by him! Can you believe a med student could be that creative?”
Nina swallowed hard. The cake turned to ash in her mouth.
The baby’s breath.
The designs.
The little romantic gestures.
They were all things she’d once taught Julian. Shaped into memories they were now giving to someone else.
She steadied her voice. “Must’ve had help from… a good friend.”
Samantha raised a brow, about to reply, but Julian cut in, “Anyway, we’ve said what we came to say. Don’t be late to the wedding
tomorrow.”
Nina glanced up. “What time is it again?”
Julian gave her a look. “Ten a.m.”
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She looked down at her phone.
A text sat there, just ten minutes old.
[Your scheduled euthanasia appointment is confirmed: 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.]
Chapter 6
