Page 118 of Sing For Us

Sara

Acouple of hours later

After Lana broke down, I urged Isa to let us take her back to the estate. He was apprehensive at first, but he let us do it when I assured him that we’ll have her doctor with us if anything happens. I might have threatened him as well.

Oh well.

The way Lana screamed in my arms was heartbreaking. The guttural sobs came from deep inside her, and at that moment, I set aside everything I felt about her. She was, and still is, a woman who lost everything.

Her parents and her best friend are dead, and she has no other living relatives.

Before she passed out, she called out to Noa.

My heart broke all over again. She wanted him to be there. He’s her anchor, and he wasn’t in the hospital to keep her from drowning. My best friend is to her what Adam is to me.

She loves him, deeply, and I would be an awful friend and human being if I didn’t help her.

I carried her out of the hospital and put her in my car. Before we left, Isa did a quick neurological exam, and everything was fine. Or as fine as things can be. During the car ride, I let Adam, Oliver, and Hana know that I was coming over with Lana. Once I arrived in the driveway, they all came running out. Oliver carried her to Noa’s bedroom.

He didn’t want to leave her side and stayed with her in the room, sitting on the floor against the wall. Oliver always had a soft spot for Lana.

The rest of us are now gathered in the living room, and I don’t even have to say anything. They know she’s heartbroken.

“I feel so bad for her. Emin meant everything to her.” Adam’s right. He was always there for her, and they treated each other like family.

Losing Emin puts a lot of things in perspective. That could have been one of us. I can’t think about that otherwise, I’m going to start crying.

“Where is Noa? Is he going to be back soon?” I ask them, and they all look at each other with conspicuous looks. My senses are telling me that something’s wrong, or that they don’t fucking know.

I slightly raise my voice. “Has anybody called him?”

They shake their heads.

Fuck.

Now I need to call him to tell him that his girlfriend’s best friend has passed away and that she passed out because of intense grief. He’s out to hopefully get a lead on the DNA sample. But knowing Dario, he probably won’t get anything out of it.

I shakily get my phone and dial Noa’s number. He picks up on the second ring. “Hey, where are you?”

It sounds like he’s in his car.

“Sorry I’ve been away for so long. I got nothing on the DNA sample, and then I went to a couple of stores to make a care package for Lana. Flowers, chocolate, taco ingredients, and a copy of her favorite movie. I want to surprise her.” He sounds so excited, and I’m debating whether to tell him now or when he comes back. I know my best friend; he would want me to tell him now.

“Noa–”

He interrupts because he is so happy. “We talked about everything. I can’t wait to see her so I can be by her side until Emin wakes up, and after he’s awake, of course.”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

“Noa…” My voice breaks on his name. He stops driving as he senses something has gone haywire.

“Yes?”

“Emin died. He passed away a couple of hours ago.”

Silence.

Complete and utter silence.