Tears started welling in my eyes. There was only one reason why Miller would make that noise. And even though I couldn’t see his face in the darkness, I knew. I swallowed hard. “What did he do to you?” My dad had taught Miller a lesson recently. And he was only just finally healing. What had my father done to him now?
“I’m fine,” he said. “I’m more concerned about you. I thought I heard you yelling earlier. But I had to wait to sneak in. Are you in pain?”
He was always way more concerned about me than himself.
“Just tell me where it hurts,” he said.
I was in pain. But not from my surgery. My chest ached every day. My heart was breaking. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. “Everywhere.”
He reached out and ran his fingers through my hair. “I’m going to go get the nurse, okay? She can give you something.”
“No. Please don’t leave me.”
“I’m not even supposed to be in here.”
“Please. Don’t go.” I caught his hand before he had a chance to flee. And I felt it. I felt what I always felt when I was around him. This undeniable sense of comfort. And it had been so long since I felt safe that I started to cry.
“Brooklyn.” His voice cracked.
“Please just stay. For just another minute.”
He squeezed my hand.
And even though he had to leave…he stayed. Because he cared about me. Because Miller did have my back.
“Just another minute,” I mumbled. I was finally tired. And a little hungry. It was like his hand in mine had restored me somehow. And I hoped to God he wouldn’t let go.
Runaway - Chapter 7
Friday
When I woke up, Miller was no longer sitting by my bed. And I had the strangest feeling that I’d imagined the whole thing. Just so I could finally sleep. I remembered all the times I’d snuck into Miller’s room at night when I was living with my dad. I couldn’t sleep in my room there. But I could always fall asleep in his arms. And he had always let me.
I looked down at my hand that he’d been holding. If it was a dream…why had I dreamt of Miller instead of Matt? It was easy to fall asleep in Matt’s arms too. He was there for me after my uncle died. He’d held me as I cried. But he’d never been there for me when I was scared.
I pulled my knees into my chest. Last night wasn’t a dream. If it was…certainly I would have dreamt of Matt. And besides, if it had actually happened…that meant Miller was here. Wherever here was. Which meant he might come back tonight to check on me. It was the only hope I had to hang on to.
***
I had no idea what time it was. Not having a window in my room was driving me crazy. Or maybe I was already crazy…and that’s why I was locked up in here.
I sighed and stared at the door. The nurse had already been by with breakfast and lunch, so she’d be by with dinner eventually. Not that I wanted any of it. I just wanted it to be nighttime again and for Miller to walk through that door.
So I waited.
And waited.
The food came and went.
I kept staring at the door, wishing for Miller to walk through it.
But Miller didn’t come.
Eventually, I switched the lights off.
I was just beginning to think I really had imagined him coming when the door creaked open.
I sat up in my bed. “Miller?”
