Chapter 8

Keegan came with a huge bouquet of bellflowers and waited outside my hospital room, begging me to forgive him. Evan drove him off and came by every day at set times to ask about my condition. My illness kept getting worse. The pain tore through my body, and I started sleeping without end. Most days, I would wake up to find it already dusk. Keegan still came to the hospital every day and waited. I agreed to see him once. His collar was wrinkled, and his hair was messily slicked back. He looked worn down, almost hollow. "Naomi, can you forgive me? This was my fault. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Can we start over?" He seemed to think of something and said hurriedly, "I've hired the best doctors. They'll cure you. They have to…" He wasn't saying it to me. He was saying it to himself. "I'm sorry, Mr... Sloan. I don't remember you." Keegan jerked his head up in panic and lunged toward me, trying to grab my hand. "No way. How can that be? How could you forget me? You can't forget me." He d