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Efia

I haven’t slept a wink since Edgar left He refuses to answer his phone I’m worried Where the hell is he? The weather is horrendous Flash floods are popping up all over the place, and it’s not like hi Not even if he’s upset My phone rings

“Edgar?”

“No This is his mother”

“Oh my God Is he okay?”

“He was caught in a flash flood last night We just got a call froot a nasty concussion, a sprained wrist, and a nu to be okay”

“Oh, thank you, Jesus,” I whisper, clutching my throat “What hospital is he at?”

“Houston Methodist We’re on the fourth floor”

“I’ll be leaving in the next ten minutes”

“Mija, please drive carefully One accident is enough tonight, no?”

“I will,” I whisper, awed by the show of acceptance she just issued with one word I closeup Maybe this will somehow be okay

Ballingthe tension built up over the sleepless night I al a step-mother seems like such a small require I have

This is the ‘forever until the end of tiet in the way of that Guilt assuages me I would’ve come to this conclusion on my own, but all he could hear was the uncertainty I should’ve realized with his past I’d trigger so I have to tell hihts, a bra, and an over-sized Gilborn’s sweatshirt that slips off my shoulder I stop to brush my teeth and sithonmy keys and umbrella, I force myself to slon I have to drive with care and focus on the wet streets

I grip the steering wheel tight as I struggle to keep the vehicle between the lines The wind and the water work together tolot, I sla across the black top to the autoht for the elevators, I take the elevator to the fourth floor I need to see him with my own eyes before I can relax

The door dings and I spot his faainst the wall