"I'm glad you're getting better," I said to Jack. I pushed off the floor with my feet and swung for a while as he watched from the wheelchair. "I miss you."
"We aren't going to get to see each other as often," he said. "Hardly ever really."
"But we will and that is the main thing," I said quickly. "I'm sorry I have to leave."
"It's fine honestly," he said. "We will phone each other still. Where's Brooklyn today?"
"No idea," I said honestly. I'd left the apartment at half six this morning after staying awake all of last night. "Probably with Tyler. Our flight is leaving soon."
"You're not talking to him," Jack said after a few seconds.
"It's nothing," I said. "Don't worry about it. We will get it sorted out soon enough."
"Good," he said. "You can get through it, I know you can."
"I know," I said quietly. Jack's mother exited the hospital door and came out to the garden we were at. I got off my swing slowly as she came to a halt next to Jack. "I should go."
"You don't want to miss your flight," Jack said to me. "I will be on my computer and stuff so let me know when you've landed."
"All right," I said. I walked over to him and leant down. I picked up his hand with a sigh, "I'm going to miss you. I'm going to have nobody to talk to in New York now."
"We can compromise and organise times to see each other," he said. "You can come and stay with us - can't she mom?"
"Of course," his mother said. "I'm not ripping you away from your friends."
"I'm sorry any of this happened," I said to him. "You didn't deserve this at all."
"I don't want pity." He squeezed my hand slowly and gave me a sad smile. "Who knows? The next time I see you it might be at your wedding to Brooklyn."
"That's not going to happen," I said. "At least not any time soon." My phone buzzed with a text from my father. "My father is here. I am sorry I have to go before you're better."
"I'm fine," he said. "I will be out of here within the next week." He released my hand and hugged me lightly. "I love you."
"I love you too," I said quietly. I wiped his eyes and he wiped mine. "I will see you as soon as I can - I promise."
"The same goes," he said quietly. "Now get out of here before I start crying properly."
I squeezed his hand before turning to his mother who embraced me tightly. "Thank you for coming here. It's helped him a lot."
"Right here," he said with a cough. "I have ears."
"It's fine," I said to her. "Give me updates - I don't trust him to give me the truth."
"Of course," she said. "You're more than welcome to come and stay with us whenever you like."
She pressed a kiss to my cheek and let me go before wheeling Jack away. Once I had watched him leave I turned away and walked towards the car park to find Dad.
I climbed into the passenger side of the car and ignored everyone else in the car. It seemed this was a family affair. "Just drive."
"Are you okay?" Brooklyn asked quietly after five minutes.
"Peach perfect," I said sarcastically.
I was silent for the rest of the drive to the airport and only moved when I had to get out of the car. I got my case out of the boot and handed Brooklyn his stuff. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and walked around the car to Jessica and May.
