Page 57

In an instant.

Bang.

Note from the author

These chapters contain scenes involving brain surgery, a prolonged coma, and the death of a loved one–and the heartbreak that follows afterward.

These events are inspired by my own experience of losing my grandmother after a brain bleed and a long stay in a coma.

Writing this chapter was my way of processing that grief.

If you’ve experienced similar loss, please take care of yourself and read only if and when you are ready.

Trigger warnings:

Traumatic brain injury

Medical trauma

Emergency surgery/neurosurgery (not on page)

Hospital / ICU scenes (on page)

Coma

Grief and bereavement

Chapter twenty-two

Lana

Bang.

What…

What…

What happened…?

Before I can get to him, a large body catapults itself onto me and pushes me onto the ground, with my face down.

“Adam! Adam!”

Shouting. So much shouting.

So much… wait… Emin.

Emin!

Nobody shot him, right?

That’s not possible.

I want to get up, but the large body is still covering me.

And I recognize his smell.

Noa.