ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON 14

Episode 43

Wednesday October 1 , 2025

Lewis Norland woke up the next morning in his single bed at the Moss Center.

They had taken his cell phone and his laptop although they said he could get his computer later on to do classes and schoolwork on.

They had also taken his clothes as well with only a too thin hideous paper gown for him to wear over the underwear and sweat pants they let him keep ( minus the drawstring). His roommate Jamal Duncan , who spent most of his time staring out of the window silently , had told him in a halting sort of speech in which he forgot words and repeated himself a lot they did that for all of the  ones who tried to off themselves. At least, he had said, for a couple days while they watched. He said they were always watching. Then Jamal rolled his eyes at him and returned to the window staring.

Lewis didn't want to be there but it was all his fault. He knew that. He had tried to kill himself again. Just like before. And he hated himself for it. Not because of how he felt but because he caused pain for his parents and Nigel. They were fighting over him. Last night his dad  almost had another heart attack talking to his mother. Over him. He almost wished he had just died. No. No almost about it. He wished he had died. Without him around maybe everyone would be happier. He didn't matter much anyway. The only time he got attention was when he screwed up something. Not like Niles or Rebecca. Even Richie.

He sighed and rolled over in his bed. He wondered what time it was. According to the schedule he had been given he had to eat breakfast and get his laptop for his Barrington Academy classes. Not that he cared if he ate anything or went to school or did anything really. He didn't even care if he could sneak a little time on FireBook or send messages to Richie and others in between classes and assignments. He just wanted to sleep.

Jamal sat up in his own bed and looked over at the other boy. He felt very irritable that morning which was odd. He had always been a morning person. Before the accident. Lately that was how he thought of his life. Before the accident. And after the accident. He fought to remember the boy's name. He knew it. Damn it. The kid had told him last night. Him and the one eyed man with the nasty looking scars and the stern looking older man. What was his damn name ?

" Lewis. "

Lewis lifted his head slightly from the pillow and glanced at him. " What? "

" You .... You better get up. Okay? You better get up. They come around bugging us early here. It's almost breakfast time. They..... they have..... they have good food here. Not.... good like Mom though. "

Jamal felt tired all of a sudden. And , just from putting all those words together. He wanted to go back to sleep but he couldn't. He had to do remote school today and occupational therapy and speech therapy and regular therapy. And his mom was coming over after work.

And, for some reason , Jimmy Klein was coming to see him after he finished working at Uncle Jeremiah's law firm. He didn't know why Jimmy was talking to him and stuff but he kinda liked it. He was looking forward to seeing him even more than his mom. But he knew it was only about pity. Jimmy Klein felt pity for him. After all , why else would he waste time coming to see him or talk to him ?

As Jamal thought to himself  Lewis struggled to force himself to sit up in that awful gown , rubbing the sleep from his eyes. " It won't be as good as my stepdad's breakfast, " Lewis said softly as much to himself as Jamal. " He makes the best pancakes. "

Jamal said softly," Mom makes great French toast. I want.... I want to go home. "