Page 117 of Fighting Fate

My mind races, struggling to process the news. Luke, pacing restlessly, looks like he's fighting his own demons. It feels surreal, like a bad dream that refuses to end.

"When did you last see Miles?" Luke's voice quivers.

"This morning," I whisper back, my voice a fragile thread. We were entwined in each other's arms, silently wishing to stay cocooned in bed all day. And now, I can't help but wish we had. Maybe, just maybe, things would be different.

Luke wrestles with his own sense of guilt. "I should've seen the signs."

Dad's voice, gentle yet firm, interrupts his self-reproach. "Luke, this isn't on you. We had no way of knowing."

"But what if we overlooked something?" Luke's voice cracks with the strain of unanswerable questions.

Inside, I'm tormented by similar thoughts. Were there signs I ignored, too caught up in my own life to see his struggle?

Luke's fist crashes down on the conference table, sending a tremor through the room as he exclaims, "Shit, I should have seen it coming. Fuck. The signs were all there. He's been off at practices, and even in a few games, but he chalked it all up to fucking hydration issues."

Dad shakes his head, our voice of reason. "We can't lose ourselves in what ifs. Our focus now should be on supporting the Chasens."

Luke's nod is weighted, his eyes shadowed by doubts and fears that reflect our shared apprehension.

"How about you both head home now? Grab something to eat, take a shower, try to rest," Dad suggests.

Mom, sensing my inner unrest, adds softly, "Maybe diving into your book tonight might help, Milli?" She nudges me gently, trying to offer some solace.

I muster a small smile. "Yeah, maybe."

But the truth is, reading is the last thing on my mind. How can I possibly concentrate on a book when Miles is here, suffering and possibly facing the same nightmare from his past? I yearn to rush to his side, to hold him close. I want to be there for him, tell him I love him, reassure him that we have a future together. I want to stand by him, just as I did before, every step of the way.

Feeling my mom's gentle nudge, I'm pulled back from my thoughts. After sharing a heartfelt embrace with both my parents, I nod toward the door. Luke and I exit the hospital, stepping into an uncertain future, unaware of what the coming hours, let alone days, might bring.

"Oh my goodness, Milli, are you okay?" Payson's worry washes over me as she hurries over the moment I enter our room.

Brooke follows closely, her eyes filled with anxiety. "Tell us he's going to be okay," she pleads, enveloping me in a hug alongside Payson.

The dam of my emotions finally breaks. I've been holding back a sea of feelings, trying to remain strong in the hospital, but now, in the sanctuary of my room with my closest friends, I let the tears fall. "I just...I don't know," I admit, my voice choked with tears.

"Oh, Milli," Brooke murmurs, her arms tightening around me.

"Let's sit down, okay?" Payson guides us gently to my bed.

We huddle together, a comforting trio. "The whole thing was just so shocking," I confess, my voice trembling. "Seeing Miles get hurt like that, being rushed off...it's unreal."

"And they don't know what's wrong?" Payson asks.

"They're keeping him for observation," I reply, my heart heavy. "But they haven't figured it out yet. They're missing some details about his medical history."

I bite my lip, holding back the fear that Miles' past battles might be resurfacing. It's not my place to share his deepest secrets, even with my best friends.

Payson's eyes widen. "But what if it's serious? How could they not have all the info?"

Brooke, ever the voice of reason, chimes in. "In emergencies, they have to act fast. I'm sure they're doing everything they can."

"I just wish I had more information," I manage between sobs, with tears rolling down my face. The guilt is relentless. "Was there anything I could have done to stop this?"

"No, Milli," Payson insists, her voice firm as she cups my face in her hands. "You can't think like that. You couldn't have known."

But the doubts linger.

"You couldn't have known," Brooke reinforces, her hand soothing my back. "Let's not jump to conclusions. We're here for you, and we'll be there for Miles and his family, no matter what."