Chapter 29
At Nathaniel’s hospital room, most visitors had already left when Theo helped Riley into. Only Nathaniel’s older brother and their mom remained. Seeing Riley arrive, Xavier immediately stood and stepped aside, offering her the chair closest to Nathaniel’s bedside.
“Come here, sweetheart,” Sophia said gently. “Talk to him. He can hear you.”
Nathaniel hadn’t regained consciousness yet. The doctor explained the anesthesia was still wearing off, but he would likely be aware of their presence and could hear their voices.
Riley approached the bed and took Nathaniel’s hand, staring silently at his body entangled in tubes and medical equipment. After a moment, tears began rolling down her face one by one. She pressed her lips together tightly, desperately trying to hold back sobs, but the tears streamed down relentlessly, falling onto the edge of the bed.
Watching this scene, Sophia turned away, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. One was her own son, the other a girl she’d watched grow up–now both suffering so much.
“Nathaniel… please wake up,” Riley finally spoke, her voice breaking. “You promised we’d go on that trip after graduation. We haven’t even gone yet…”
Her raw grief engulfed everyone in the room. Even Theo, watching her pain, felt a tightness in his throat.
“I was so mad at you before… I couldn’t forgive you for some things, but I’ve realized now none of that matters. Just please get better, and we can forget everything else, okay?”
Both women were crying now. Xavier moved to put his arm around his mother, comforting her softly.
Theo quietly slipped out of the room. There was no place for him in this moment.
“Riley, I never even got to tell you how I feel,” he whispered to himself, watching the trembling girl through the doorway. He had promised himself that if she chose him, he’d never let her cry like this. Yet here she was, crying over someone else.
With a sigh, Theo walked slowly out of the hospital into the bright sunshine. Maybe he’d grab something to eat. A fitting end to his unspoken first love.
“Em… Riley…” A voice so faint it was barely audible made Riley jerk her head up. She realized Nathaniel was looking at her.
His lips moved behind the oxygen mask as if trying to say more, but nothing came out beyond those initial sounds.
Riley jumped to her feet, shaking her head through her tears. “Don’t try to talk, Nathaniel. I’m staying right here with you. There’s no rush, you can tell me later…”
She turned to call for a doctor, but felt her hand suddenly gripped by Nathaniel. “I’m not leaving,” she reassured him. “I just need to get the doctor.”
Xavier finally caught on. “Riley, you stay with him. I’ll get the doctor,” he said, hurrying out.
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Chapter 29
sat back down, anxiously asking Nathaniel if anything hurt.
Then she caught herself and cried, “God, I’m being stupid. Of course you’re in pain. Everything must hurt.”
She held his hand tight, repeating over and over, “I’m so sorry… this is all my fault…”
Nathaniel slowly shook his head, struggling to form each word: “Not… your… fault…”
Riley’s tears flowed even harder. Sometimes, it really does take almost losing someone to realize just how much you truly love
them.
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