He searches between my eyes. “There has to be something we can do. I can leave rehab early—find a job.”
“No, you’re not leaving rehab. Dad, it’s a setback, that’s all. I spoke with Joan and Stu, and they were adamant that we use the apartment above the diner. It’s a bachelor pad, so only one bedroom and super tiny, but we can make due until we can save up again for our own place.”
He nods. “I guess you’re right. That’s very kind of them. They’ve really been good to you through everything. I don’t even know how I’ll repay them for how they have looked out for you these past couple years, and for what they’ve done for me.”
“Just keep doing what you’re doing,” I reply.
My father smiles. “Have you heard anything more about Dylan. Your friends Jordan and Ava, are they still looking for him?”
At the mention of his name, my body vibrates, and the tears well up in my eyes. “They are. Every time they get some sort of lead, they follow it, but they haven’t found him.”
The door to my room opens, and an older, very tiny woman steps inside. “Time to get a move on, Adler.”
My father lets out a groan turning to me. “The warden has spoken. Sorry, kid. Can we carry this on tomorrow?”
“Same bat-time!” I let out with a chuckle.
My father smiles. “Same Bat-channel!” He leans over, kissing me on the cheek then heads out.
I miss him when he leaves, but knowing he’s getting better gives me some solace, the only kind I get considering my heart’s in a million pieces and I don’t know that it will ever be fixed.
I hate the nights, that’s when I struggle with it all the most. My nights here are long, and the whole light’s out at nine with the floor being completely dark doesn’t help. I will usually fall asleep after a little tossing and turning, but then wake when a monitor sounds or one of the nurses comes to change my IV. But tonight, it’s different. Tonight, I feel something I haven’t felt in a while—peace!
There’s only ever been one person who made me feel like this. My eyes shoot open and I try to search the room, but only the faint glow of the monitor provides any kind of light, so instead, I call out in a whisper. “Dylan?”
There’s no reply, so I call out again. “Dylan, if that’s you, please say something.” Still no response. My heart sinks a little in my chest, and the calm that was there quickly disappears.
I stay awake a little while longer, raking my brain for places where Dylan could be, then eventually I nod off, falling into a deep sleep this time and not waking until morning.
I wake to the sound of the nurse in my room once again adjusting my monitor.
“Good morning, how are you feeling today?”
With my eyelids still heavy from sleep, I give them a moment to adjust, then offer her a smile and reply, “I’m feeling pretty good.”
She finishes up with the IV then moves to the other side of my bed to come and check on some of the bandages. That’s when I notice the package.
“When was that brought in?” I ask.
She looks to where I’m pointing. “I’m not sure, but visiting hours haven’t started yet, so it must have been put there yesterday.”
I shake my head. “No, that wasn’t there last night.”
She looks to me in question then shrugs. “Maybe someone dropped it off at the front desk, and one of the night nurses brought it in.” She finishes up then moves to the package. “Would you like it?”
“Yes, please.”
The nurse lifts the beautifully wrapped fair-sized box and places it on my table, then rolls it over my bed. I open the small envelope on top and pull out the card.
It reads, ‘He would want you to have it!’
A warm shiver runs through my body. I open the box and when I remove the tissue paper, Chase’s chessboard and all the pieces are carefully placed inside.
The tears come instantly, followed by a heaviness in my heart. “It was him. He was here. I knew it. I felt him here.”
The nurse who looks both concerned and intrigued if that’s possible, asks, “Who was here?”
I look to her with a soft smile. “Dylan.”
Jordan and Ava arrive shortly after lunch. The two have been incredible. Ava went to the school's administration, taking care of all the paperwork for a leave from studies and even had them hold a place for
me next term in case I was ready to return. Jordan and a few guys from the university football team, moved all the stuff out of the apartment and into Joan’s diner bachelor pad after she had packed the whole place up.
“He was here!”
Eyes wide, Ava looks to me. “You saw him?”
I shake my head. “No, but it’s like I could feel him in the room. When I called out, he didn’t respond. But this morning there was a box for me sitting on the dresser, all wrapped and everything.”
“Who are we talking about?” Jordan asks, not having caught on as quickly as Ava.
“Dylan!” Both Ava and I respond.
“Dylan? Are you sure? The last lead that Ava and I got was that he was in Virginia,” Jordan mentions.
I look to him, confused. “Virginia? What could possibly be in Virginia that would have his interest?”
Jordan looks down to his hands. “It’s not necessarily what, Vel.”
My heart drops, and a heaviness falls over me. “You think he’s with someone.” It’s a statement, not a question.
Ava straightens, taking my hand in hers. “Velyn, don’t listen to him. He’s making assumptions based on Dylan’s past.”
