Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change? novel Chapter 1184

She looked at him, and there was no mistaking the disappointment in her eyes.

“Did you forget what you promised me? You swore—swore, Gilbert—that you’d never meddle in her life again. That you’d stay out of it, for good!”

And for a while, he actually had.

“Didn’t you two already call it quits?”

It was only out of some lingering sense of duty, he told himself, that he still checked up on her from time to time.

Sherilyn let out a sharp, bitter laugh, her eyes watering.

“What is this, some middle school playground drama? Yesterday you’re at each other’s throats, today you’re all starry-eyed and holding hands again?”

“That’s not it—not at all—” Gilbert stammered, gripping her hand, desperate.

“I’m done!” she snapped, yanking her hand back.

She gave him a hard, cold look. “You think I’m with you because I actually want to be? Do you have any idea how much I hate her? And you, too!”

She shook her head, her voice trembling, “You promised me you’d cut her out of your life forever. That she’d be gone—out of my world, too. That’s the only reason I tried to give us a chance. But…”

Sherilyn sucked in a shaky breath, and let out a laugh that sounded more like a sob.

“Still tangled up. Never-ending. Just like always.”

“She threw herself out a window!” Gilbert blurted, unable to keep it in any longer.

That stopped Sherilyn cold. “What?”

He couldn’t hide his worry. “It’s bad. Real bad…”

“So what?” Sherilyn scoffed after a pause, her voice icy. “You rushed to the hospital to play nurse? What, she can’t afford real help? Do what you want.”

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and turned to leave.

“Sherilyn, wait!” Gilbert grabbed her arm. “It’s not what you think—”

“I don’t know you. Who are you?” she whispered, shaking her head vigorously. “No, I’m not hungry…”

“Ms. Bennett, it’s me, Josie. I’ve been your nurse for weeks, don’t you remember?” The woman tried again, gently pressing the spoon to her lips. “Come on, before it gets cold—just a little…”

“No! No, I won’t!” Caroline suddenly smacked the bowl from the nurse’s hands. Soup and spoon went flying across the floor.

“Oh, dear…” The nurse gasped, flustered. “Now what am I supposed to do?”

Caroline shrank back, clutching her head. “I don’t know you! Why are you trying to make me eat? Who are you?!”

Suddenly, she started shouting. “Francis! Francis! Where are you?”

Getting no answer, she switched names. “Gilbert! Gilbert, where are you?”

Outside, Sherilyn saw everything. Her face had gone pale.

The sight triggered a memory—she thought of someone else, of Katy, old Mrs. Naylor, who’d lost herself just like this.