Lines We Blur

Chapter 10

Between the video of Alex’s heartfelt speech and the newer video of his confrontation with Lana, he was all over the internet. Local news stations even picked up the story, calling his mother to request interviews. It didn’t help that Miles had now been labeled a local hero; people wanted to know all about them, and soon students from their school were narrating their own “versions” of events, each adding their own flair.

By midweek, the whole experience had become overwhelming for Alex. He felt like he was caught in a whirlwind of rumors, attention, and curiosity that he had no idea how to handle. Desperate for some peace, he decided to visit Miles at the hospital. He’d heard Miles hadn’t woken up yet, but something about going felt right—it was the only thing he could think to do.

At the hospital, Alex fumbled at the reception desk, nervously explaining how he and Miles were from the same school, how they were close, and that he just wanted to see him. The male nurse didn’t seem convinced, eyeing him skeptically, when a warm voice broke through.

“Are you Alex? Alex Hayes?”

Alex turned to see a woman who appeared to be in her early forties, dressed in a cardigan and a kind smile. “Yes,” he replied, feeling both nervous and surprised.

“I’m Sheryl, Miles’s mom. I was wondering when you’d show up,” she said, her eyes kind and gentle. “Are you here to visit Miles?”

“Yes,” Alex said, his voice barely above a whisper, a mixture of relief and shyness washing over him.

“It’s fine, Wale, I’ll take him,” she assured the male nurse. “This way, Alex.”

They walked together down the hospital corridor, the fluorescent lights casting a soft glow over the quiet space. Sheryl opened the door to Miles’s room, and Alex’s heart sank a little as he saw the breathing tube in Miles’s mouth, the faint beep of the monitors filling the silence.

“Are those for him?” Sheryl asked, motioning to the flowers Alex had brought.

“Oh, yes,” he said, glancing down at the bouquet.

“I’ll go get a vase for them,” she said gently. “You can settle in, maybe talk to him. Who knows? Maybe he’ll hear you and decide to wake up.” She gave him a reassuring smile and left the room.

Now alone, Alex took a shaky breath and stepped closer to the bed. He didn’t know what to say; the words he’d rehearsed seemed to evaporate. Instead, he reached out and took Miles’s hand, squeezing it gently. The weight of everything he hadn’t been able to express suddenly surged up, and, without realizing it, he lowered his forehead to their intertwined hands and began to cry. It was a release he hadn’t known he needed, and before long, his sobs softened, and he drifted off to sleep, still holding Miles’s hand.

A soft touch on his shoulder woke him. Blinking, he looked up to see Sheryl, her expression sympathetic. “It’s getting late, sweetheart,” she said gently. “Let me give you a ride home. It’s not safe for you to be taking public transport all the way to the Northside at this hour.”

The ride was quiet but comforting. Sheryl didn’t press him with questions or fill the silence, respecting his need for calm. The city lights slipped past the car windows, casting fleeting shadows across the seats. By the time they arrived, it was close to 10 PM.

As they pulled up in front of Alex’s home, Sheryl gave a warm smile. “I think it’d be rude if I didn’t say hello to your parents. Just a quick chat, then I’ll be on my way.”

Alex’s parents were both welcoming and polite, their warmth evident as they chatted briefly with Sheryl in the doorway. After a few kind words and a thank-you from Sheryl, she finally headed home, leaving Alex standing in the quiet of his house, the emotional weight of the day settling around him.

As he lay in bed that night, he thought about Miles, about their friendship, and about how much he needed him back. Even though the world felt overwhelming, he knew that at least he had friends, family, and even Miles’s mom who understood, who made him feel less alone. It was a bittersweet comfort, but one that made him hold onto hope a little tighter.

That Friday, Alex decided he needed a break from it all, and his mom agreed. The endless attention had been overwhelming, and he needed time to gather himself. After his parents left for work, the house felt peaceful, just the quiet hum of silence filling each room. Alex spent the morning wandering through the house, aimlessly switching between staring at his phone, flipping through TV channels, and trying to focus on anything but the world outside.

Around 3 PM, the front door opened, and in walked Alexa, her footsteps lighter than usual as she noticed the quiet atmosphere. But she wasn’t alone. Behind her were Lily and Mark, who, upon seeing Alex, broke into wide smiles.

“Missed you at school today, dude,” Mark said, giving him a quick fist bump as if they hadn’t seen each other in weeks.

“Yeah, it was so weird without you there,” Lily added, dropping her bag by the door and joining them in the living room. “We thought we’d surprise you and keep you company.”

Touched, Alex smiled, feeling a little of the weight lift off his shoulders. “Thanks, guys. I could use the company.”

Without another word, they all plopped onto the couches and spent the rest of the afternoon doing nothing in particular—talking about school, venting about tests, laughing at ridiculous jokes. Mark pulled up a game on his phone, challenging Alex to a round, while Alexa gave Lily a mini-makeover, braiding her hair with a level of focus that had everyone cracking up.

As the evening rolled in, they ordered pizza, filling the house with the warm smell of melted cheese and pepperoni, and watched a mix of their favorite shows