Healing echos

Chapter three

"that's some act you're putting on here huh?"

Sand glanced at Mew, a mix of surprise and concern in his eyes. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice low.

Mew leaned forward, his expression serious. "I mean, pretending like you care about Ray. It's pretty convincing, but I know the truth."

Sand's jaw tightened, his gaze steady. "I do care about Ray. He means a lot to me."

Mew scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "Sure, sure. That's what they all say. But I know you, Sand. You've always been selfish, only looking out for yourself."

Sand felt a surge of frustration rising within him. "You don't know anything about me, Mew. You don't know what I've been through or how much I've tried to be there for Ray."

Mew shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "Oh, please. Spare me the sob story. You think you can just waltz back into Ray's life and play the hero? Well, newsflash, buddy, it's not gonna work."

Sand clenched his fists, trying to keep his temper in check. "I'm not trying to be a hero. I just want to make things right."

Mew's eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Right. Because cheating on him and breaking his heart is definitely the way to go."

Sand felt like he had been punched in the gut. "I... I never meant to hurt him," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper.

Mew shook his head, his expression softening slightly. "Look, I get it. We all make mistakes. But you need to own up to yours and stop pretending like you're some kind of saint."

Sand's shoulders slumped, the weight of guilt bearing down on him. "I know I messed up. And I'm trying to make amends. But it's not easy."

Mew sighed, his tone more sympathetic now. "I know it's not. But you have to start somewhere, right? Just... be honest with yourself and with Ray. He deserves that much."

Sand nodded, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions. "I'll try," he said quietly. "For Ray."

———-

Sand stepped into his apartment, the familiar scent and feel of home washing over him like a warm embrace. It had been a while since he had last been here, his focus consumed by Ray's accident and recovery. As he called out, the silence of the empty apartment echoed back at him.

"Hello?" Sand called out again, his voice tinged with uncertainty. He and his close friend Nick shared this apartment, but the atmosphere had been so tense and hectic over the last couple of days that Sand wasn't sure if Nick was even home.

Taking a deep breath, Sand walked further into the apartment, his footsteps echoing softly against the floor. The dim light filtering through the windows cast long shadows, adding to the sense of solitude.

"Nick?" Sand called out once more, his voice quieter this time. He felt a pang of loneliness, realizing how much he had missed the comfort of his home and the presence of his friend.

Sand was quickly alerted by the sound of a person falling out of bed, mumbling something. Nick quickly came rushing out of his room, trying to get a T-shirt over his head.

"Sand, you're back!" Nick exclaimed, his voice slightly muffled by the fabric.

Sand took a step back, a mixture of surprise and annoyance crossing his face. "Ew, dude, did you bring home another girl? You know what I said about that," he said, his tone tinged with disapproval.

Nick awkwardly laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "Uh, yeah, about that..."

Just then, an unknown voice piped up from the direction of Nick's room. "Who's that?" the voice asked, a half-naked man said as he approached the two.

Sand quickly covered his eyes, a look of horror on his face. "Nick!" he shouted, his voice a mixture of frustration and disbelief.

Nick's face turned beet red as he realized the awkwardness of the situation. "Uh, sorry, Sand. I didn't expect you to come back so soon," he stammered, trying to think of an explanation.

Sand shook his head, trying to process what was happening. "I'll just... grab my things and leave" he muttered, turning to leave the apartment.

Sand was kicked out of the hospital room because the doctors needed to run tests on Ray for the majority of the day. The staff encouraged him to go home, assuring him that Ray would be fine alone for a few hours. Unsure of how to spend the time, Sand decided to visit his mother. It had been a while since they had last spoken, and their relationship had always been strained.

His mother had given birth to him when she was barely 18 and worked in a hostess club. She never told Sand anything about his father, leaving him to believe he was the product of a one-night stand. Their relationship had always been distant, with Sand growing up feeling more like a burden than a beloved son.

As Sand made his way to his mother's apartment, he couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Memories of his childhood flickered through his mind—times when he needed her but she was too busy with work, moments when he felt completely alone.

When he arrived at her apartment, Sand hesitated for a moment before knocking on the door. It took a few seconds, but finally, the door opened, revealing his mother. She looked surprised to see him but quickly masked her emotions.

"Sand?" she said, her voice tinged with surprise and curiosity. "What brings you here?"

Sand shifted uncomfortably, not entirely sure how to start. "Hey, Mom. I just... I needed to talk to someone."

She stepped aside, allowing him to enter. The apartment was small and sparsely furnished, a stark reminder of the life she had chosen. "Well, come in. Sit down."

Sand took a seat on the worn-out couch, glancing around the room. "It's been a while," he said, trying to bridge the gap between them.

His mother nodded, sitting down across from him. "Yes, it has. How have you been?"

Sand took a deep breath, deciding to be honest. "Not great, to be honest. A friend of mine was in a serious accident, and it's been... difficult."

She listened quietly, her eyes softening. "I'm sorry to hear that, Sand. Is there anything I can do?"

Sand shook his head, feeling a pang of regret for how distant they had always been. "No, I just needed to talk. It's been a lot to handle."

His mother reached out, placing a hand on his. It was a small gesture, but it meant the world to Sand. "I'm here for you, Sand. I know we haven't been close, but I want to help if I can."

Sand looked into her eyes, seeing a glimmer of the maternal warmth he had always longed for. "Thanks, Mom. That means a lot."

They sat in silence for a few moments, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. For the first time in a long time, Sand felt a sense of connection with his mother. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.

After a while, Sand stood up. "I should get back to the hospital. But I appreciate you listening."

His mother stood up as well, giving him a small smile. "Anytime, Sand. Don't be a stranger."

Sand nodded, feeling a bit lighter as he left the apartment. As he made his way back to the hospital, he realized that maybe, just maybe, there was hope for healing not just with Ray, but within his own family as well.