20 Days In His Bedroom

Chapter Fifty nine

Twyla's POV

Kyle didn't show up today. That ache inside me won't let me forget.
Will he stop searching for me? Has he already given up?

Could that unknown number have been him? No, impossible—how would he get my number? But Jakob called himself my boyfriend. Maybe Kyle's jealous now. Maybe he's hurt.

Twy, wake up.
Kyle wouldn't just call and then stay silent. So why didn't he try harder? Why didn't he come to see me? I need to know he's still fighting. I need to see it with my own eyes.

Did his mom tell him to stop looking? Or force him to marry some girl she chose? Off, I hate these thoughts swirling in my head.

"Kyle, what are you doing?"
I see him drop to his knees, hands shaking, eyes glazed over.

"I want to die like my dad."
He pounds the ground, again and again, until his hands bleed.

"But your dad is still alive."
I kneel across from him, reaching out to stop him—but my hands shake, powerless.

"I want to die like my dad."
He repeats the words like a broken record, lost inside some dark place I don't understand.

I wake up gasping for breath. A nightmare. But it felt so real.
Why would Kyle want to die? Is he okay? My heart pounds with worry.

I walk to Mom's room. Dad's at work, so she's lying on the bed scrolling through Facebook.

"Mom, can you please give me Kyle's number?" I try to sound calm.

"Why?" she scowls.

"I had a nightmare. I'm worried something happened to him."

"No, he's fine." Mom rolls her eyes.

"How do you know?"

"I went through his mom's Facebook. Some friend was flirting with Kyle in the comments—wants him for her daughter. Maybe that's why he stopped talking to you. Twyla, that's enough. Stop thinking about that guy." Her voice is sharp.

"But he wouldn't do that," I whisper.

Is he preparing for an engagement or something? No, no—

"Don't cry over his wedding pictures." Mom pulls me into a hug.
No, Mom, no. Will Kyle really do that? But I loved him.

"Honey, sometimes we think we love someone, but it's not real. You thought you loved him because he saved you, because you stayed together in that place. That's why your feelings got tangled. Believe me, Twy, I know you better than you know yourself. You're emotional, sensitive. You think he was your safe place, so you think you love him." She rubs my back gently.

Is she right? I don't know. All I know is I love him. I can't imagine life without him. Please God, let him be mine. The only one I want.

"I'm going to my room." I break free from her hold and leave.

I open my laptop and search Kyle's name on Facebook. Weird—I've never looked him up before.

His photo appears: him at a bar, open shirt, jeans, laughing to the side with a glass of wine. I don't like this picture.

I click his profile. It's private but not fully locked. I find pictures of him playing basketball with his team. He never told me he played.

Another photo catches my eye—a girl, slim, in a short blue dress and heels, ponytail swinging, smiling with Kyle's arm around her waist. Caption: "I love you, sweetheart."
Is she the girl he told me about? She's pretty, I can't deny that. So why does he still keep this picture?

Scrolling down, I see dozens of posts on his timeline asking about the accident. People care... but where is he now?

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Kyle's POV

"Check if the doctor's out yet," Mom says.

I stand, look toward the door—it's still closed. The doctor's inside.

"He's still in there." I sigh, sinking back into the chair.

"Mom, maybe you should go home. I'll stay here," I say.

"I want to stay with you. I can't leave your dad." She closes her eyes, pain written all over her face.

Mom and Dad fought a lot, but their love always brought them back. I've never seen Mom like this before.

Every time I think about how I left Dad all this time, though I could've come back sooner, guilt crushes me. But I stayed away because of Twyla. If only she knew—I need her now. I need to see her eyes. To hear her say everything will be okay.

"Hello," the doctor finally comes out, breaking my thoughts.

"How is he, doctor?" Mom stands quickly.

"A bit better." The doctor shakes his head slowly.

"A bit?" I grimace.

"I have to keep him under observation. His case isn't severe, but he needs to stay until we're sure."

"Mom, like I said..."

"No." She shakes her head firmly.

"You don't have to stay. Come tomorrow early instead. Don't worry." The doctor tries to reassure us.

Mom will be more comfortable at home. I finally convince her to leave with me, promising to be back first thing in the morning.

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Hey everyone, sorry I'm a bit late! Life's been hectic, but your support means the world to me and keeps me writing.