Nodding, I tried to focus on not focusing on the earbuds I desperately wanted to shove into my ears. “His boyfriend.”
“How long have they been together?”
“Nine or ten years, give or take.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah,” I sighed. “I don’t even want to think about everything he’s gone through. I mean,”—I shifted sideways,looking right at her—“what caused a fight so bad, he suddenly reached out for help?”
Sarah shrugged, her shoulders sagging with an invisible weight. “Maybe it was you. I’ve never seen him talk to anyone before you.”
A knock sounded against the door just before it creaked open, Devon slowly stepping in. The bed rustled beneath us as Sarah and I both sat up straighter, waiting for him to say something.
The look on his face didn’t bode too well. “He’s definitely taken quite the beating. I’m going to be leaving some bandages, cream, and a prescription for antibiotics just in case. He might’ve cracked or broken a few ribs, but those will heal by themselves.”
I made mental notes of everything he said, paying careful attention to every word. “What about his pain?”
“I can’t prescribe any pain meds, unfortunately. Not without raising some red flags. Antibiotics are one thing. Switch between ibuprofen and Tylenol, use ice to keep the swelling down, and make sure he’s hydrated and well-fed.” He fished his wallet out of his pocket, pulling a card from it. “If you have questions, or if he starts to show signs of infection, call me. If you’re concerned and I don’t answer, take him to the Clandestine hospital.”
Standing, I took the card from him, immediately opening my phone to enter his number into it. “Thank you. I mean it. Is he awake?”
He hoisted his bag over his shoulder, adjusting it against his side. “No, and I don’t expect him to be up for a while. If you work tomorrow, I’d call in sick. He’ll need someone with him.”
Fuck, I’d completely forgotten about work. “I’ve got it. Thank you again.”
“No problem.” He started to walk out of the room, butstopped, turning on his heel. “By the way, if you ever expect to get the police involved, I’d take pictures of him now. For evidence.”
I patted my pocket, feeling my phone there. Suddenly, it was burning a fucking hole through the material. He was right. I knew he was right, but I didn’t want him to be. Especially since I knew Elio would probably be mad about it when he woke up.
Sarah and I followed Devon back to the living room, stopping in front of the door. He was halfway out already, but Sarah hesitated where she stood, glancing from me to down the hallway. “You okay?”
She shook her head, bringing her eyes back to mine. “I don’t want to leave. I’m worried about him.”
The skin on her face sagged with exhaustion, pulling the smile lines and small wrinkles further down than normal. “I know. If you give me your number, I’ll text you in the morning.”
“Okay. Sounds good.”
Once she left, silence took over. A heavy, sticky thing that clung to my skin like cling wrap. It haunted me, chasing me around my apartment like a ghost I’d never be rid of.
Elio’s face was covered in little bandages. His eyes were still swelling. He lay sleeping on the couch, just under the photo of us in high school. It was a slap in the face, seeing how different things were now compared to then.
And amongst the ghosts, I let the whispers take over as I lay on the floor beside him. I refused to let go or leave him alone. No matter how loud the voices got, I wouldn’t fail him again.
Chapter Twelve
Something was stabbingme in the eye. Or my nose. Maybe my side.
Scratch that, it was stabbing meeverywhere.I slowly started to climb my way through the layers of exhaustion weighing my body down. My head was swimming, the dizziness mixing with incessant stabs of pain every few seconds. I couldn’t locate the source, no matter how hard I tried. I couldn’t think past the thick maze of cobwebs surrounding my brain.
There was something wrong inside my skull. I groaned and tried to shift my body, willing it all to stop. To just fucking stop. Stop hurting. Stop stabbing. Stop pounding.
Where was Jude?
Goddamn it. I was in so much pain, I couldn’t muffle my groans. It just hurt so much. Everywhere. But I needed to be quiet. I couldn’t disturb him.
If Judeheard me whining, he’d only make it hurt worse. I didn’t want him to make it worse, so I forced my nausea down. I bit my tongue. I tried to make my legs stop moving and writhing in time with my pain.
“Elio, hey. You awake?”
