SHOW ME HOW

Chapter 14

Two Weeks Later...

It's Friday night, and Emily's over at my place, insisting we watch a movie together. I'm not really the movie-watching type, but I gave in—mostly because she wouldn't stop pestering me about it since she arrived.

I've been on edge ever since we got the news about the accident. It's like time has slowed to a crawl, and everything around me feels stuck—no progress, no clarity, just this heavy stillness.

"Has your mom called or messaged with any updates about your brother and his friend?" Emily asked as she settled beside me on the couch, facing the TV.

The day Mom got that call about Elijah's accident, she didn't hesitate. She threw a few clothes into a duffel bag, grabbed her passport, and rushed to the airport to catch the first flight to Italy.

"Yeah, she called me earlier when I got home. Elijah's condition hasn't changed much, but she still won't go into detail. All she said was that he has a back injury and was heading into another surgery. When I asked if I could talk to him, she didn't respond. Ben broke his arm and leg, but apparently, he's doing okay. I don't know anyone in Italy I could reach out to—someone who could actually go to the hospital and give me a clearer picture. What's been bothering me even more is how little I've heard from Mom since she left. We've only spoken a handful of times, and every call has been short, like she's avoiding a real conversation. Maybe I'm overthinking it... maybe she's just overwhelmed."

"Wait," Emily said, turning toward me. "Didn't you say Jessie and his siblings used to live in Italy before they moved back here? Why not ask him if he knows someone—maybe a friend or neighbor—who could check in on your brother for you?"

"Yeah, why didn't I think of that?" I said, slumping back into the couch as it hit me—I didn't even have his number. "But I don't have his number," I sighed.

"His mom? Duh!" Emily said, smacking her forehead in mock exasperation.

"Well, duh," I echoed, and we both burst out laughing at my moment of forgetfulness.

Honestly, I find myself appreciating Emily more with each passing day. She has this effortless way of lifting my mood, even if only for a little while.

"Call her now. Maybe she can ask someone over there to check in. I mean, they must still know people," Emily urged.

"Alright, let's see," I said, reaching for my phone on the coffee table. I scrolled through my contacts until I found her number, then hit dial before I could second-guess myself.

"Put it on speaker," Emily whispered, and I did, resting the phone on my thigh.

"Hi Dev, honey! How are you?" Mrs. B answered on the second ring, her voice a little breathless, like I'd caught her off guard.

"Hi Mrs. B, I'm good, and you?" I replied. I could hear muffled voices in the background, followed by the sound of a door closing, cutting them off.

"I'm doing well, sweetheart. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, um... I think I might've dropped my bracelet in Jessie's car the other night when he gave me a ride home. Would you mind sharing his number so I can ask him to check?"

Mrs. B chuckled. "Of course, honey. Actually, he's in the other room. Let me call him over

A moment later Jessie's voice came through on the other side. and hand him the phone so you two can talk directly. Hold on a sec," she said, and I heard the door creak open as the background noise returned.

"Hey Devin, how've you been?" Jessie said as he came on the line. Emily immediately flopped backward onto the couch in mock swoon at the sound of his voice, making me smile.