I cover my mouth in shock.
“It was a horrific scene. The mom was screaming while the dad administered CPR on the two-year-old little boy who was already blue.”
Tears that I can’t hold back fall down my face as Nikki reaches for my hand.
“It fucked up Fed bad. For months, he couldn’t get the mom’s screams out of his head. We tried to take him to choir practice as much as we could to help him get it out of his mind. Eventually, he was able to move on, but obviously, a part of it stayed with him.”
Then, it hits me. “That’s why he said he wouldn’t be able to survive it?”
He lets out a deep breath. “Yeah. He’s so scared to have his own child that he swore he’d never have any.”
“Oh my God,” I whisper, looking at Nikki, who wraps her arms around me.
“Now, I don’t know where he is or what his plans are, but I just felt like you needed to know his why. He’s really not a bad guy.”
My voice cracks as I say, “I know he’s not.”
“Okay, well, my good deed for the day is done, though I’m not sure how much it helped.”
“It helped a lot. Thank you for telling me.”
“Just hope you two work it out. I know he really cares for you. He told me that this morning.”
I nod, not able to say anything else as the tears are falling too much to do so.
“Myles, this is Nikki, Kara’s friend. When you spoke, did he tell you where he was going?”
“No, just that he was going for a drive.”
“I know where he went then,” I say, my voice cracking.
“Glad to hear. He’s pretty messed up, and I don’t like the idea of him being alone.”
Nikki looks at me for confirmation, and I nod.
“We’ll get him,” she says. “Thanks for calling.”
“Yeah. Good luck, and, hey, congratulations.”
I let out a surprised laugh, forgetting for a second why we’re here in the first place. “Thank you.”
We say our goodbyes, and I look at Nikki.
“So, you’re going for a drive?” she asks.
I nod.
“Do you want me to come?”
I grasp her hand. “I think I’ll do this one alone.”
She stands with her arms wide open. I do the same, and we embrace.
“Thanks for being here for me,” I whisper.
“Anytime. Now, go get your guy.”
I head to the door, slip on my shoes, and look at myself in the mirror. “Oh my God, I look like a wreck.”
