BECKETT
The weight of Jack’s body landed against me, pulling me down, protecting me.
Something exploded, a horrifying noise that swallowed all other noises.
Pieces of brick from the building rained down on the sidewalk, just inches away from my face. Jack’s chest covered my head. I couldn’t move to get a better idea of what was happening, how we were trapped.
Debris covered us. The world was dark, filling my lungs with dust and soot.
Somewhere, far away, a sound broke through again.
Imogen was screaming.
But I just wanted to lie here for a while, even though I felt like I was suffocating. It was better than the alternative: feeling the weight of the guilt of leaving Sage’s father behind. I knew it’d hit full force if we ever got out from under this rubble.
Sage would never forgive me. I had heard her howl inside the building at the top of those stairs. I know what it did to her to leave him behind.
Her father.
I’d never forgive myself.
If I’d been Jack, I could have carried them both. We all would have made it out alive.
If I were stronger, I could have done it with both of them.
But Jack wasn’t there.
It had only been me.
And that wasn’t enough.
I wasn’t enough.
I was never going to be enough.