Who am I kidding? I got nothin’. Seriously nothing to plead to God right before I die. Besides, no matter what I say or do, tomorrow will come, and against the desperate pleas of our family, Violet will take a fatal dose of barbiturates prescribed by our very own family doctor. Ending a yearlong battle with a rare lung condition. There is no cure. The doctors try to comfort us. Reminding our family that Violet is terminal regardless. Let her go, they advise us. Though it’s not as if we have a choice in the matter. Violet and I recently turned eighteen, and as a legal adult, she’s decided she no longer wants to suffer. She’s choosing “death with dignity.” Exercising her right, to the right-to-die law. Well, it’s my right, too. I wipe my nose with the back of my hand, puff out my aching chest and prepare to mimic my twin’s bravery...die with dignity. A final moment of Earth glory. My very last fail.
I close my eyes and wipe at another frozen tear, that tiny piece of me that wants to live gnawing at my innards, creeping to the surface, begging the question: Why am I up here sobbing? And why am I gripping this icy beam as if I really don’t want to die? I suck air through my teeth as the realization settles within me. It’s because I don’t want to die. It’s because I won’t. Not on this night. Not when Violet still lives. It’s because even though all hope is lost...I cling to it still.
“Help me,” I whisper. “That’s what I need, God. Please. Why won’t you help me? Why won’t you help her?”
And the most bizarre thing transpires. A voice pierces through the noise of the pounding rain and answers back...
“Um... Why won’t you?”
I twist my body, terrified to think someone could be standing right beside me. But the sudden movement causes both feet to slip off the planks.
I lose my grip and fall.
Copyright © 2019 by Dana L. Davis
Connect with Inkyard Press!
Get the latest scoop on bookish news, events, and contests by signing up for our newsletter! The hottest titles, exclusive author content, and awesome giveaways are just a click away.
Sign up today!
Don’t forget to follow us on social, @inkyardpress!
ISBN-13: 9781488076534
Roman and Jewel
Copyright © 2021 by Dana L. Davis
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
For questions and comments about the quality of this book, please contact us at [email protected].
Inkyard Press
22 Adelaide St. West, 40th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5H 4E3, Canada
www.InkyardPress.com
Roman and Jewel Page 28
