An email had been sent from Zoe to her husband at 2:10pm on the same day Zoe had overdosed. There were only two words in the email—I’m Sorry.

“Don’t delete that email, Mr. Brandt,” said Daryl. “It may become material.”

When Conner got home that night exhaustion overcame him. He would have loved nothing better than to take a shower and go to bed but he needed to find that missing phone first.

For the next four hours, he ripped the place apart searching every inch of the apartment. At 2am, completely spent, he sat on a stool in the kitchen digging through one last drawer. Where the hell did she put that goddamn phone? I was only gone for a few hours and no one else came in or out. It was definitely in my bag when I left. Zoe left the apartment unconscious on a stretcher. The phone has got to be here somewhere. Where the hell is it?

THURSDAY—JUNE 11, 2020

Because of the pandemic, each hospital had created their own set of safety protocols. Regency Memorial allowed only immediate family and no more than two at a time. Police were allowed in with proper PPE. Masquerading as her brother, Sean once again got past the hospital gatekeepers. When he arrived late that afternoon, Conner was already there sitting next to her bed.

“I’ll stay with her for a while before I head into work,” said Sean. “Why don’t you go home? You look exhausted.” Conner protested but finally agreed saying he’d be back in a few hours. After Conner left, Sean chattered on as cheerfully as possible about all the things happening at the newly opened Villa d’Luna.

“The reopening has been one disaster after the next,” said Sean. “Trust me, running a restaurant outside is a whole different ball game. Miranda’s hair is falling out in big red clumps and there have been several accidents with people bringing food in and out of the same front door. We totally need you back, so you really have to wake up, okay?”

Zoe’s eyelids flickered.

“Zoe?” said Sean leaning closer. “It’s Sean, can you hear me?”

Her eyelids moved again but there was still no response. Disappointed, he sat back in his chair, tears filling his eyes. “Please wake up, Zoe, I really miss you.”

Almost as if his will had a telekinetic effect, Zoe’s eyelids fluttered again and slowly opened. She blinked several times and Sean let out a squeal. “Zoe, can you hear me?”

“What?”

“Oh my God, you can hear me,” said Sean, smiling. “You’re in the hospital.”

“What?”

“You took all that Ambien. Do you remember?”

“Where am I?” said Zoe, her eyes circling the room.

“Regency Memorial Hospital,” said Sean again.

“Why?”