Free All is Lost (All Series, Book 2) by Marie Wathen Page A

fight. Our
only weapon at this point is prayer. Giving everything I have into
this appeal, I beseech God for one more chance with
them.
    Anna and I stay in our embrace, huddled on the
floor at the edge of Tristan’s bed for a long time. My breathing
slows to a deep hitching. My face is flushed and swollen. Finally
swallowing down every bit of my anxiety, I lift my eyes to Tristan.
It is bad. Tears roll down my cheeks as I see all of the swelling
and bruising marking his beautiful face. There are blood soaked
bandages around his head and randomly lying on the floor near the
head of his bed. My heart breaks for his suffering. If only there
was something more that I could do to help him or Anna, I would
sacrifice everything.
    My chest heaves with broken cries after long
minutes of staring at the one man who has loved me since my
father’s disappearance. Still clinging to Anna mostly because I’m
afraid to let her go, I finally really look at her and notice that
she is still wearing the party dress from last night. It is
drenched in Tristan's blood and smeared with dirt from lying on the
ground while she cradled him to her body .
    She hasn't been home or showered.
That's what I can do for her.
    “ Anna, I think you and I need a
break. I know you want to stay right here and believe me so do I,
but…” I pause judging her body language.
    How can I approach her in this situation? I'm
usually spot–on with her since I've known her for so long and
learned her tell-tale signs. Noticing the differences in her since
I came into the room, I decide her strength is renewed with me
being here so I just say what I want to do.
    “ I'm taking you home to get a
shower and clean clothes. Then we’re going to get some real food,
not the crap they try to pass off as food in this hospital.” Her
body shifts away from me and she pierces me with a defiant stare,
but I continue. “You don't have to stay away any longer than it
takes to do those things. I'll bring you back soon. I
promise.”
    I've never made a promise to her or anyone
other than my dad in my entire life. She stares at me in utter
disbelief, but she knows that I am telling her the
truth.
    “ You're right.” She sighs, nodding
slowly. “I know you're right. Okay, I’ll go with you. I need to let
the nurse know that we're leaving. She can page his parents and ask
them to stay with him until we get back.” She says “we” with
confidence, knowing that we are indeed in this together. Smiling, I
nod agreeing with her plans.
    She quickly moves to hover over his face,
placing a kiss on his forehead. With her lips remaining on his head
she tells him she loves him more than he loves her, of our plans to
leave, and then reassures him that we will return before he can
miss her. I smile knowing that almost everything that she said is
nothing short of impossible. No one loves anyone more than Tristan
loves Anna. Not even her love for him can compare.
    I look at him one last time before turning
toward the door. Remembering that she told me he can hear us, I
touch his fingers once more.
    “ I love you too,
Tristan.”
    Exhaling a breath that I feel like I've been
holding for years, I anxiously face Anna expecting… I don't know
what the hell I am expecting. After a sharp intake of breath, her
eyes instantly glisten and she quickly lowers them to the floor.
Shock flashing through her features, Anna bites down hard on her
bottom lip and she blinks fervently at the tears streaming down her
face. She's never heard me say these words to anyone. Ever. The
time has come for me to change that fact.
    “ Anna, I've been so stupid. You
loved me when I wasn’t worthy of it. I don’t know what else to say
other than I am so sorry. I love you and I’ve loved you all of my
life. Please forgive me for all of those years that I selfishly
pushed you away.” I whisper, watching her eyes lift up slowly to
meet mine and a single tear slowly trickles down my
cheek.
    This changes everything. I can't