“Parker.” She reached out for me.

“Hey, Emily.” I sat down beside her hospital bed.

“What happened?” She looked around the room, confused.

“You were in a car accident. Do you not remember?”

She blinked her eyes, her face black and blue from the wreck.

“I remember going out drinking with the girls. I remember.” She stopped and looked at me. “I was drunk.”

I nodded my head, and she closed her eyes.

“I’m such an idiot.”

I didn’t say anything because she was right. Drinking and driving was idiotic. She didn’t need me yelling at her for her to realize that.

“Where are my parents?” She looked toward the door.

“They went downstairs to get some lunch. I told them I would stay here in case you woke up.”

She looked up at me, so much hope in her eyes. “Why are you here, Parker?”

“They said you kept saying my name over and over when they brought you in.”

She tried to bring her hand up to her face, but all the cords and tubes stopped her.

“I’m sorry, Parker. That’s so embarrassing.” She chuckled, but it was completely fake.

“I’m the one who is sorry, Emily. I never meant for things to be like this. I never wanted to hurt you.”

“I know.” She leaned her head back against her pillow. “But it still hurts.”

I nodded my head. I didn’t know what I could say to her to make it better. I didn’t know if there was anything I could say.

“Is she worth it?” She was staring at me, and as much as I didn’t want to hurt her more, I couldn’t lie to her.

“I’m in love with her, Emily. I have been since I was sixteen years old.”

She bit her lip and I could see tears forming in her eyes. “Did you love me?”

My chest ached because I did love her. I didn’t love her in the way that I loved Livy, but it didn’t mean that our love hadn’t meant something.

“I did.”

“But you love her more.”

I didn’t answer her. I just looked at her, and she nodded her head. She already knew the answer.

“Why are you here, Parker?”

“I already told you. You kept saying my name and…”

“No, Parker.” She shook her head.

“Why are you here?”

I stared at her, the girl that I almost married, and the guilt ate me up inside. “I feel so guilty, Emily. I just… I want you to be happy. I walked in here, and I saw you like this.” I motioned toward her. “You wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me.”

“Stop.” She put her hand on top of mine. “I would give anything to have you still. Anything.” She took a deep, trembling breath. “But I don’t want to spend my life with someone who’s in love with someone else. I deserve better than that.”

“I know you do.” Emily deserved everything good. She deserved the world.

“Don’t waste it. We broke up because you’re in love with her. Don’t make her question that.”

Her words hit me hard in the chest.

“Go to her.”

I stood up, kissing Emily on the forehead, kissing her for the last time. “Thank you.”

I walked to the door, but Emily called my name as I turned the handle.

“I don’t blame you, you know? You can’t help who you love.”

And with her forgiveness, my heart broke a little more because I didn’t deserve it.