Page 165 of Dissolving Prejudice

Soren’s brows drew close. “So there’s no need for me to talk to anyone?”

His concern touched me and was almost enough to make me feel better.

“No, it’s all good,” I said, although we did need to come up with a story for how Camilo got injured, but that could wait for later. “How is he?”

During our short phone call, I told Soren about Camilo and asked him to check on him first before coming to me.

“He’s still in surgery, Shay-Lee. They’re working hard to stop the bleeding.”

My heart paused. “Bleeding?”

“Internal bleeding.” He sighed before meeting my scared look. “They’re fighting for his life.”

Soren’s words wrenched at my gut because a naive part of me hoped that by the time I was done here, Camilo would already be stabilized and out of danger. And while I knew nothing about medicine, I knew surgeries didn’t work like that and that they took time. The head operation I had five years ago took hours, and later on, I was in a coma for weeks. The mere thought that I’d have to wait so long for Camilo to wake up turned my body ice-cold, and scared, I looked down at the floor. My fists curled at my sides when I suddenly remembered something and slipped my hand into my pocket.

“What’s that?” Soren asked when I pulled out my necklace.

“A promise.”

“What?”

Clutching the necklace in my fist, I brought it close to my heart.

This is our promise to live a life together. A long, full, happy life.

“I have to go, but I’ll be back, okay?”

Soren’s confusion grew stronger as more creases formed around his eyes. “You have to go? Where? Diesel is still in surgery—”

“He’ll be okay.”

Because he has to be.

“Shay-Lee, you’re not making any sense.”

And while Soren continued to argue that I should stay here, I remembered I didn’t have shit on me—not my phone, wallet, not even a single dollar bill.

“I need to borrow some money.”

“What?” He scowled, holding his hands up, after I reached to search his pockets.

“Shay-Lee, please—”

Finding his wallet in the right pocket of his trousers, I pulled it out, fumbled inside, and took out a hundred. It should be enough, right?

“Shay-Lee, would you please explain what on earth has gotten into you?” Soren’s voice was tight with nerves, very unlike him.

“I promise to pay it back soon.” I pushed the wallet back into his hand and turned around when he grabbed my arm.

“I’m not letting you out of this room,” he announced.

I focused on his hand, which clung to me for dear life, before I looked up to meet his fearful eyes.

“Everything will be fine, Soren.” My lips pulled into a smile. “I know it will, but for now, I really have to go somewhere, so please—” I removed his hand from me. “—I’ll catch you later.” I didn’t wait for a response, nor did I provide him with any more explanations before I got out of the room and out of the hospital. Without a phone or a wallet, the money I borrowed from Soren was my only means to get there. I chewed on my lower lip, wondering one last time if this was a smart idea, when I realized it was the only option.

“Taxi!” I called, my hand raised up and my heart set on one goal:

To put this monster to sleep.