Three Hearts One Soul (The Soul Series #1) Read Online Free Page A

need to go home Nev, you can’t stay here.”
    I wave my hand about, dismissing her concern. “I will, I just want to make sure he’s ok.”
    She gives me a narrow glare and then nods. “If I come in for my shift tomorrow and you’re sleeping beside his bed, I’m going to kick your ass.”
    I hug her and promise I will go home, then I head down to Jase’s room. When I get in, a young nurse is fluttering around him with a bowl for him to be sick in, but she keeps moving it as he throws up. She’s only new and I know she’s nervous. Seeing Jase hunched over, throwing up over and over has something inside of me dying just a little. I don’t let it affect me though, I promised him I would be there and I will. I won’t let him down. He needs me and I will find whatever strength I can muster up to make sure he has me. I drop my purse and rush over, touching the nurse on the arm. She’s only new, so I don’t know her name.
    “Hey, I’ve got it, go and do your rounds.”
    She gives me a grateful smile. “Thank you, it’s only my first week and I’m a little nervous.”
    I pat her arm. “ It’s fine, I have just finished my shift so I’ll take care of him until another nurse comes.”
    “Thank you,” she smiles gratefully before rushing out.
    I turn to Jase, and he’s trembling so violently it concerns me. I reach across and touch his back, rubbing gently. He groans and throws up again, even though there’s nothing left in his stomach. Then he begins coughing violently. Laying him back, I put the oxygen mask over his face and rub his chest. “I’m here, Jase, it’s ok. You need to focus on your breathing, it’s ok.”
    He doesn’t speak, probably because he can’t. When he waves a hand at me, I remove his oxygen and he throws up twice more. When he seems to have completely emptied his stomach, I lay him back and put the bowl on the nearby bench and gather a cloth, running it under cool water before rushing back over. When I reach Jase, he has his eyes closed and tears are thundering down his cheeks. I take his clammy hand in mine and bring it to my lips, kissing it softly. Then I run the cool cloth over his forehead. He opens his bloodshot eyes and looks directly at me.
    “I don’t want to die…” he whimpers.
    Feeling my wall break, I climb into the bed next to him. What do you say to someone in this situation, when you know that there just may be nothing you can do? How do you make them feel ok? How do you make them find peace? I wrap my arms around Jase’s head and pull it down to my chest, where I proceed to wipe his face with the cool cloth and stroke the place where I know was once a mass of thick blonde hair. This is all I can do for him right now. It’s all I have to give. I can only be there and offer him a place to feel some comfort.
    “We’re going to fight , Jase,” I whisper, gently stroking his head. “We’re going to fight.”
    He wraps his arms around me and holds me so tightly I struggle to breathe. I continue stroking his hair as the night nurse, Janice, comes in. She smiles at me and walks over, changing the bag on Jase’s drip. He doesn’t move, I think he might have finally passed out. She takes his arms and does his pressure and observations. I sit, just holding him while she goes over everything and marks it all down in his chart. When she’s done, she turns to me.
    “Do you want me to bring a cot in for you?”
    I think about Tanya’s words, and I know Jase needs his rest. The last thing I want to do is leave, but after the chemo session, Jase really does need to let his body come down from it. If I stay, he won’t get the rest he needs. Sighing and closing my eyes, I answer her.  “No, I should let him get his rest. Please call me though if he needs me, it doesn’t matter what time, just call.”
    I slide out of the bed and Jase groans. I tuck him in and lean down to kiss his head, he doesn’t open his eyes. I stroke his cheek and then stand. Janice smiles at