Drawing the Line

Chapter 19

Hospital staff engulfed in their work, rushed past Rylie and Joel peering through a rectangular glass. Her mother was on life support with various tubes attached to various parts of her body.

She had stopped crying, but her eyes had become bloodshot and all he could do was offer his shoulder for support as he wrapped an arm around her.

"Don't cry Rylie, everything will be okay. Can you tell me what happened?"

Upon hearing his question, she looked at her feet.

"Since we slept over at Cameron's house, I was trying to sneak back into the house before my mom woke up. I had knocked over something, but I didn't hear her yell. So I searched all the rooms and...and..." her voice choked up and Joel wrapped both arms around her in a hug.

"Shhhh, shhh, it's okay."

"I just feel so conflicted. She always put me down and I took in all her abuse. She's dying but a part of me feels relieved I don't have to suffer anymore. Does this make me a bad person, Joel?"

"Of course not. You have every right to feel the way you do. At the end of the day, she was your mother, but you deserved better," he said as he rubbed her back.

*Ring ring*

"Oh, it's Cameron..." Rylie glanced at the screen and felt conflicted. She tossed her phone back into her purse.

"I don't think I can talk to him right now. I wouldn't know what to say and I know he means well but sometimes, he can be a bit suffocating," she sighed and walked towards the washroom.

*Ring ring*

"Hello?" Joel picked up his phone, thinking it was probably Cameron.

"Hey Joel, what have you been up to lately?"

"Hey, just busy with...work and everything. Something up?"

"I just thought of you...and wanted to know if you've heard from Rylie recently?"

He had feared Cameron was going to ask him this question when he picked up. He had never really lied to him before, because he never really had a reason to. Right now, it felt like he was being put through a test.

"I...no, sorry. I haven't seen her since we all left your place the other day."

"It's just, I haven't heard from her either since then and she's not answering my calls.

Hearing Cameron talk like this did make him seem a bit clingy.

"I'm sure she'll call you back eventually. Just remember to give her space from time to time, you don't want to scare her off."

"I know, I just really miss her."

They both hung up just as Rylie returned and stood beside him again.

She stared straight ahead at her mother through the glass and wasn't aware of her surroundings, or Joel looking at her side profile. Even with all the sorrow written on her face, she was still...

"Beautiful..." he mumbled.

For the first time since the three of them met, Joel felt like he was betraying Cameron, and he didn't feel guilty about it.

-------------------------------------------------

At a coffee shop a few streets away from the hospital, Emilia was seated by a window, waiting for someone to arrive. She was lost in thought as she thought back to yesterday and the confession she got from Yuki.

He had leaned in for a kiss, catching her off guard. Luckily, she had pushed him away and was able to take a few steps back.

"What are you doing?!"