Across the Deadzone

Chapter 18: Ophelia

When I woke up, both Wystan and Timber were nowhere to be seen. Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I slowly rose from the couch cushion. "Wys?" I called softly. I glanced at his alarm clock, noting that it was nearly five.
My time in Hemmington was quickly coming to an end. Too quickly.
I gazed around the room, taking in the scene, memorizing it. I realized Wystan's meds weren't sitting in their usual place on the table. "Wystan?" I said, more urgent.
I peeked my head into his bedroom and let out a relieved breath. Timber and Wystan were curled up next to each other on his bed.
How had I slept through that?
When Timber heard me pad into the room, her head popped up, staring at me curiously.
"Stay there, Tim," I whispered. But she forced herself up, stepping on Wystan in the process. He let out a sharp, 'Oof' and sat up, clutching his stomach.
It's not like I didn't want to wake him up or anything. "Thanks, Timber," I muttered sarcastically as I crouched down to pat her head.
"You're leaving?" Wystan piped up, hand reflexively reaching for a backpack set beside his bed. I squinted at it, but decided not to ask.
"Yeah, sorry, I didn't want to wake you up. I felt like last night was enough of a goodbye."
His eyes were earnestly searching mine. For what, I couldn't say. Finally, he opened his mouth to speak, and what came out surprised me.
"You didn't say goodbye to me then, either."
I knew what he was referring to, and it haunted me every day. The fact that I had been too much of a coward to say goodbye to him when I moved away.
"I- it makes everything seem final," I admitted. "Like it's ending, you know? I was afraid that meant our friendship was over, too."
Wystan offered me a smile, his lips flashing up lopsidedly. He pushed himself to his feet, coming to stand in front of me. "Don't worry. This isn't where our story ends," he assured me. His promise burrowed itself into my heart, made me believe it. Or, at least, yearn for him to be right.
I nodded slightly. "I'll see you soon," I said in place of a goodbye.
He chuckled, like he was in on a joke that I wasn't. "Really soon."
We fell silent, each waiting for the other to add something. Finally, Wystan said, "You should get going. Don't wanna miss the Uber. It might be a few weeks before the next one can make a stop here."
My eyes widened, having momentarily forgotten why I'd come to Hemmington in the first place. "Yeah, s-sorry," I stuttered, quickly gathering my stuff and hustling to the door. At the last second, I paused, then called over my shoulder, "Stay safe, Wystan."
"Go!" he exclaimed, jokingly shooing me out of his flat.
Timber tried to squeeze out beside me, but I pushed her back gently. "Your place is here, Tim. Take care of Wystan for me." She whimpered piteously, but I ignored her cries and her sad brown eyes, closing the door behind me.
Taking a moment to steady my breathing and square my shoulders, I reminded myself of why I was leaving. What I needed to do.
Find my family.
Still, one question burned in the back of my head: wasn't Wystan my family, too?