I smiled a little. “Yeah. She saved me. And I don’t even think she knows it.”

“Then let her,” she said gently. “And let your mother support you too. She’s ready.” She turned to my mother. “He needs you to share the weight. It’s too heavy for him to carry alone.”

My mom reached over and put her hand on mine. “I want to support you, baby. I do. I’m sorry. I didn’t know how before, but I do now.”

For the first time, it felt like I wasn’t grieving alone, like it wasn’t a mistake that I had lived.

“Kellon, we’ve made some great breakthroughs today, but I’d like to keep seeing you together for a few more sessions. I think you should start your own solo ones as well. Can I refer you to my husband? He’s great with male clients.”

“Yes. I’d like that.”

I stood from the chair and hugged my mother before leaving the office. She still had a few things she wanted to discuss, and that was cool with me. I needed some time alone to walk and think. The doctor’s words clarified what I already knew. Phileigh was the reason I had lived. She was my soulmate, and the universe couldn’t leave her out here alone.

When I stepped outside, I felt lighter. I did not feel fixed, but I was healing, finally healing, and not just coping. I pulled out my phone to call Phileigh. I wanted to let her know how it went, but before I could dial her, my phone rang. It was Lolo. My face balled up. Something in the pit of my stomach told me something was wrong.

“Sup?” I answered quickly, waiting for Lolo to confirm what I already suspected.

“Kellon, we’re heading to the hospital!” Lolo yelled frantically through the phone. “Someone attacked her in the parking lot. They think it was random. She’s asking for you. There’s blood. The baby⁠—”

And just like that, my world dropped to the damn grown and shattered in a million pieces.

“Which hospital?” That was all I wanted to know.

“Mount Sinai.”

I didn’t say goodbye. I don’t remember if I hung up. I just turned and ran back into the building through the receptionist area and back into Dr. Baites’s office.

“Kellon!” Dr. Baites shouted in confusion.

“Ma, we gotta go.” My voice was dry and broken.

“What’s wrong?”

“Phileigh’s in the hospital. Someone attacked her.”