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Reed talked a littleHe said his father would be in the cast until the holidays, but that he should start to be able to get around after that Rose was co to stay at the house to help out, too, and Reed was hopeful that Jason wouldn’t stay the entire time I didn’t want to tell hie, and I wouldn’t put it past hi just to hold onto the job a little longer

I let Reed go as the sun was setting, pro Most ofat the nearby apartment complex--where the campus rules didn’t apply Thursdays were more like Fridays around here, withon Thursday afternoons

I took advantage of the peace and solitude and hauledof laundry down the hall so I’d have clean clothes for the weekend I kicked back in the laundry rooh wash and dry cycles I was able to finishand even made my notes for our class discussion on Monday I was deterrades didn’t hts back down, Nolan," I told ot everything folded and packed and was settled in ht I checked my phone one last time and found a short text from Reed

See you toh I closed my eyes and fell asleep quickly for the first time in days

The clock read 3 am when my eyes flashed open I was suddenly and co, and I stilledht thatit for foot traffic or a shadow, but there was no one outside Deciding it must have been a dream, I threw my covers off and slid sideways from my bed That’s when I noticed the blood

My pajama bottoms were soaked, and I could feel dampness on ht next to , and badly I raced to the bathroo to understand How could I be bleeding? I checked for more blood, and it was heavy

No, no, no I was so scared so I was nowwith rab my phone I needed Sarah

I dialed, not even thinking what time it was When she answered, I realized "Hello? Nolan?" she whispered groggily "What the fu…"

"Sarah, please co!" I was shaking and crying hysterically "Hurry, please"

"Okay, okay, cal up before I could fill her in any more I slid down to the floor, pulled my knees to hts raced, "I didn’t want this, but I didn’t want this This is my fault" I couldn’t stop the voice in uilt until I heard the ding of the elevator down the hall I went to the door to unlock it and let Sarah in

"Nolan, what’s wro…" she took one look atnow, and I was shivering uncontrollably "Nolan, it’s okay Co softly now In an instant, I becaile and broken She pulledmy head to her shoulder We stayed like that for severalfrohter and whispered softly into be okay," she said, knowing it wouldn’t, but also knowing that those were the only words she could say right now

Over the next hour, Sarah helped get edin her lap until the sun started to brighten my curtains Sarah didn’t sleep either, but instead sat aithwhatever I needed to hear in my ear When ot up to head to the gym, I reached over and slapped it off

I rolled h o see Reed," I was matter-of-fact "He’s the only one that can make this okay"