“Come on. This is a lot to process,” Dad said. “Let’s sit down and talk things through.”
I suddenly realized Dad and Preach had walked me to the end of the strip mall. There was a picnic table with an awning above it.
Screw this.
I took off running.
Footsteps trailed behind me as I tore down the block.
Preach.
I sped up and dodged a couple of oncoming cars to make it across the street.
“Come on, Grace!” Preach yelled. “You’re going to get yourself killed.”
What the hell did he know about anything? I tucked my head down and turned on the speed. I booked it down Main and then turned on Clinton.
A few more blocks to the clinic. I had to talk to Heidi.
My heart was hammering my chest so hard, it ricocheted in my head. Hot, streaming tears burned a path down my face.
The sun was out, but it wasn’t super warm. I was running in pants, though, so I was heating up. Sweat dribbled along my temple and down my back.
“Come on, Gracie.” Preach finally caught me. “Stop a second. We need to—”
“We?” I came to a screeching halt and faced off with him in the middle of a grassy area near a small park. “There is nowe, Preach.”
“Gracie. Just—”
“You fucking did this. This is all your fault.” I regretted my words the moment they left my lips. But I was too hurt, scratch that, too devastated to separate the truth from the anger boiling in my veins. Bile stung the back of my throat as the sounds of metal crashing rang in my mind. My wrist between the two cars. Crushed. “We’re done. Leave me the hell alone.”
“Come on, Grace. Wait. You’re upset. Let’s—”
“Stay away from me.” My entire body trembled as I backed away from him. “I can’t do this right now. I can’t be around you. It’s just too much. Please, Ryan. Just leave me alone!”
And then I ran. No footsteps behind me that time.
Two blocks later, the clinic came into sight, and I let out a gasp. My chest tightened and my skin tingled along my scalp.
I burst through the main doors and slowed to a fast walk.
“Hey…Grace,” Heidi said, leaving one of the aides working with a patient. “Are you okay?”
My chest tightened, and more tears poured down. I went to speak, but I couldn’t get enough air for much more than, “Air Force. Medically ineligible.”
She grabbed my shoulders. “I need you to relax for me, hun. Can you do that?”
Guiding me to the bench by the coat hanger, she kept focused on me. “What’s going on?”
“You said…better…stronger.” I gulped in air. It wasn’t enough, though. Why couldn’t I catch my breath? “Air Force…kicked me out!”
“Oh, Grace. I’m so sorry.”
“You lied.” My chest heaved. Darkness curved the corners of my vision. I couldn’t catch my breath.
“You said…”
“You will continue to get better.” She rested her hand on my shoulder. “But there’s only so much time can do to heal the nerve damage you sustained.”