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Uncle Boone stood with the coaches as they talked and drank coffee Deep concern ritten across all their faces West was loved And from the way the others spoke of his dad, so was Jude

The hours passed, and we all waited Every hour West was back there meant another hour he’d had with his dad I hoped he said everything he wanted to say That when his dad took his last breath, West had no regrets

I watched as Raleigh walked over to talk to Brady He was polite to her, but I could see he wasn’t thrilled she was here

Suddenly Aunt Coralee spoke beside me "We were there with you the day it happened You probably don’t re it well Bless your heart, how could you? My heart broke as I watched you pull away froie I want you to know that I know you don’t want to talk about it, but sitting here, watching this, I want you to knoere there Jorie was there Weyou didn’t want to do"

I did rerief, but I reuard over otten that I hadn’t cared at the tilad she’d done it

I looked over at her and smiled I wanted to tell her that I knew That I was thankful they’d been there Butthrough was enough I couldn’t also try to speak to her for the first ti room remained full Brady had dozed off in his chair and Nash had lain down on several chairs to take a nap

Raleigh had left, thankfully I’d breathed a sigh of relief when she’d given up on waiting for West

It was close to eight in the evening when West walked through the doors His eyes scanned the waiting room until they found me I stood up, my stomach in knots As much as I had prepared

West held out his hand for me, and I walked over and took it "He can have more visitors now I’d like that to be you," he said close to my ear

I squeezed his hand He looked up froto breathe But he’s sleeping," West said to everyone "Thank y’all for co we have people out here who care means a lot Especially to my mom So thanks for that"

West moved his attention back to ers threaded withall day

His dad’s rooe s so the nurses could watch him from their station Fro on the bed beside his dad’s ar on to him, as if she could keep him here that way

"I think Mo," he said as he opened the door and stood back for o in His hand touched ainst the wall

He sat down and put his ar the back of the sofa "Come here Sit with me"