Spencer shakes his head and lights up the screen on his phone, looking at the time. “I … I don’t know,” he says, appearing too lost to try and work it out.
“Two hours,” Charlie murmurs from Colton’s other side. “At least, just coming up to it. Google tells me it could take anywhere up to six hours but add all his other injuries and he could be in there for a while.”
I let out a heavy sigh, more than prepared to sit here for as long as it takes.
The room falls into silence, everyone caught inside their own thoughts. Colton doesn’t move an inch, always keeping me in his arms as I silently cry while begging for my friend to be alright.
The only reason Milo was so scared to come out to the world was because of this very reason. He was terrified of what it would mean for him, terrified of the horrendous people who would want to hurt him, terrified of the rejection he’d get from his family and friends.
It’s a feeling no one would ever understand unless you’ve walked a mile in his shoes. I can’t even imagine the fear of being who you are, fearing falling in love with someone, and being judged because that person has the same body parts as you.
Don't we live in the twenty-first century? Why is homophobia still a thing? How can people still be so cruel?
The minutes turn into hours and then finally an exhausted doctor comes striding through the doors. “Rinaldi,” he calls, glancing around the massive room.
We all sit up straighter, watching with wide eyes as Milo’s parents rise from their chairs and go to meet with the doctor. Their conversation is hushed for privacy but I can read the relief all over Milo’s mother's face.
The doctor squeezes her shoulder and with a warm smile, walks away. I watch as Milo’s parents turn to each other and fold themselves into one another’s arms, their relief the loudest silence in the room.
They soon pull away from each other and make their way over to our small group. We all stand, waiting to hear exactly what they have to say.
Milo’s father gives us all a strained smile. “Milo is doing okay,” he finally says, glancing around to each of us. “The doctor says that he had some extensive injuries and needs to remain in the ICU for a few hours for observation. His surgery went well and they’re expecting a full recovery, however it will be a long road. He is just coming off the anesthesia so he’ll be sleeping for another few hours.”
Milo’s mother takes over. “We’re going to go and sit with him while he wakes. You’re all welcome to stay and wait or you can go home and come back later.”
“We’ll stay,” Spencer announces. “Can you let him know that we’re here once he wakes?”
Mrs. Rinaldi reaches out and squeezes his shoulder. “Of course, sweet boy,” she says. “I know he’s really going to appreciate that you all stayed, so thank you for that.”
All three of the boys nod and with that, Milo’s parents disappear through the big double doors of the hospital, leaving us all to settle back into our seats and wait the long agonizing hours before we finally get to check on him.
The exhaustion of my wild emotions has me falling into a fitful sleep on Colton’s shoulder, which is only possible due to the safety net he gives me with his arms wrapped tightly around me.
I’m woken three hours later to Colton’s soft murmuring, telling me that it’s time to go and see Milo. I peel myself off his shoulder, feeling as though I could still sleep for another ten hours. I’ve never felt so emotionally drained like this, but right now, there are more important things that I need to do.
I climb off Colton’s lap and he gets up behind me, slipping his hand back into mine as the four of us start making our way to the big double doors his parents had only disappeared through a few hours ago.
We walk down the hallway, studying the numbers on the door until Spencer stops in front of room 482. He steps into it and lightly raps on the door before pushing it open and peeking inside the room, either checking that this is the right room and if it is, that he’s good for visitors.
After a moment that seems to last forever, Spencer pushes the door wider and we all trail in behind him. The room is filled with clinical light and has that clean hospital smell that reminds me of death, but I put it to the back of my mind the second I lay my eyes on my best friend.
He looks like death.
I’ve never seen Milo so down.
He gives us all a small smile that doesn’t hit his eyes and as we finish pouring into the room, his parents walk out, giving us space to check on our friend.
Spencer awkwardly hovers by his side, staring over his new boyfriend in horror while Charlie hovers in the back, not as close as the rest of us. Colton stands by my side as I walk right up to Milo and look over his injuries.
His eye is black and nearly swollen shut while his usually beautiful face is covered in dark bruising of the deepest blues and blacks. His arm is in a cast and his neck scraped. The rest of his body is covered with blankets but I don’t doubt that it’s just as bad under there.
I gently lift his hand into mine, fighting back the
