Him

Chapter 26: Homecoming

The room was empty once more. Last I remembered, Sam was next to me, comforting me. But he wasn't here now and the room felt cold. The way a lot of hospital rooms did, but when Sam was with me, it felt like home. Any place did.

I got up slowly, knowing my limits and making sure I didn't surpass them.

"Hello?"

I asked hopefully.

No response.

I laid back down and looked towards the window. It was dark out and nothing but a few spaced out street lamps glowed in the dark.

I heard the door crack open and without a thought I pretended to be sleeping. I didn't know why I had done this, but it was almost instinctive.

Two people. It wasn't just one person. A nurse and... Sam?

"When do you think she'll be ready to go home?"

Sam asked.

"She's okay to leave tomorrow but do you think she will leave without her mother?"

"No... she wouldn't."

"Well her mother is not ready to go home for a few days. She has to have recovery time."

The nurse said.

"But Nina needs to go home. I don't think it's comforting to keep her here. Even after all she's been through."

"I saw bruises... was she an abused child?"

Sam was quiet.

"No, I just couldn't protect her."

I heard the nurse take a step, to what I assume was to comfort him.

"We can't always be there, though you're being vague and I'm not too sure what happened, I know she loves you. It's guaranteed. I've seen how she looks at you. You didn't do anything wrong in her book."

"I should've been there. I'm sorry I'm being vague but it's super personal and she wouldn't want anyone else knowing."

I smiled.

"That's why she loves you. That moment right there. That's why she lies you."

The nurse patted his shoulder and walked out. Sam plopped down on the chair beside my bed and began to cry silently. It took everything in me to not reassure him immediately.

I turned around faking a yawn and looked at Sam who immediately wiped his face as of nothing happened.

"Hey sleepy head."

I smiled.

"Hey lovely... you're still here?"

"I went to go eat dinner but I came back. I brought you food though. If you're hungry."

I blushed a little.

"I'm always hungry."

He laughed and it made my heart flutter. He was genuinely laughing for a moment and that meant everything.