Catherine found Jacob in the hallway outside Lily's room, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, looking utterly exhausted and emotionally spent.
"Jacob."
He opened his eyes. "Mother."
"You should get some rest. Get cleaned up. I can sit with Lily—"
"I'm not leaving her."
"You've been here all night. You need to take care of yourself too." Catherine's voice was gentle but firm. "You're no good to her if you collapse."
"I can't." His voice was raw with emotion. "Every time I close my eyes, I see her falling. I see the blood. I see her dying in my arms." He looked at his mother desperately. "I can't leave her. What if she needs me and I'm not there?"
Catherine pulled her son into her arms—something she had not done since he was a child.
"She's safe now. You saved her. You can rest."
"I didn't save her. She saved herself. She saved Grandfather. I just—I just held her while she bled out." His shoulders shook with suppressed emotion. "I was useless."
