Jared wiped the sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his blue tunic and stepped through the doorway.
Kerra's voice hit him before he could even kick off his shoes.
"Jared—where the hell have you been?"
Fury burned in her eyes. His heart stuttered. The neighbour never called unless something was wrong—and she was supposed to be staying with her friend out of town.
He scanned the empty hammock against the wall. "Where's Mom?"
"She's gone. She passed away."
The words hit him like a physical blow. Staggered back against the doorframe. "What? No, that's not..." Jared couldn't finish the sentence.
"She died because she was alone and in too much pain."
"God damn it! Why did I trust Pat? He'd lied to me when he said he would take good care of her!"
"Who's Pat?"
Jared's jaw tightened. "Someone who made promises he couldn't keep."
"Jared-"
"It doesn't matter now."
Kerra watched him for a moment, then her expression shifted to concern. "Jared... what happened to your eye?"
"I got stabbed. Spent the last few weeks in the hospital. That's why I wasn't here."
Kerra reached out, her hand hovering just before his face. "Jared, you're hurt...
He flinched away, the sting of the wound nothing compared to the pain in his chest.
"I should have been here," he whispered, the words a confession to himself.