Chris kept running the conversation with Cory over and over in his head, the image of Sky standing out in the hospital main lobby, so close and yet out of reach.
His heart clenched as he thought of how Sky must have felt. How alone he must have been to show up like that, only to be stopped at the door.
He came for me, Chris thought, clenching his fists. He came for me.
But did Sky know how much Chris had been struggling, too? Did he understand how much he meant to Chris, or was he just as lost, as confused, as terrified as Chris had been?
Chris took a shaky breath, his thoughts clouded with doubt. He couldn't let this slip away.
"Where is he now?" Chris asked suddenly, his voice hoarse, as he turned to Cory, grabbing him by the arm. "He's still here, right? He didn't leave?"
Cory, taken aback by the sudden desperation in Chris's voice, hesitated for a moment before answering. "I don't know," he said softly. "But he seemed determined. I think he's still out there. Somewhere."
