“I’m sorry,” I said, trying to square my shoulders and stop my tears. I was about to introduce myself but then realized he’d called me by name.
“Mylos—Miles—and I…” I couldn’t go on.
“He says your name sometimes in his sleep.” He put his arm around my shoulders.
Part of me wanted to know if Mylos had ever told him about me. The other part didn’t want to know what he might’ve
said.
“If it makes you feel any better, I’m his best friend and he doesn’t want me here either.” He smiled, but then the look on his face grew serious. “Knowing Miles the way I do, my guess is he doesn’t want any of us here. You, me, his sister, or his parents. I know him to be a private and very proud man. Having to depend on others will never be easy for him.”
I nodded, unsurprised by his friend’s assessment.
“If you want to give me your number, I can call you if anything changes,” the man offered.
As in, if he asked for me? That would never happen. I might as well walk out of the hospital and return to Italy. But I wasn’t here only for him. Lily had asked me to come. I would give her the comfort and support her brother refused from me.
“That’s very nice of you,” I said when he handed me his phone and I put my number in it. “Thank you.”
I walked to the elevator, turning once more before I pressed the button. Mylos’ friend was still staring at me. What was he thinking, I wondered. When I heard the elevator’s ding, I held up my hand, and he did the same.
When I exited in the lobby, I saw Mylos’ mother and father sitting in the atrium. Not sure whether Lily told them she’d contacted me, I didn’t walk over to speak with them. As I passed by, headed toward the exit, Margaret, Lily and Mylos’ mother, called out to me.
“Pia,” she cried, drawing me into a hug. “I’m so glad you’ve come. Have you seen Miles?”
I thought about lying and saying I didn’t go in, because his friend was there. “I didn’t stay, since he had company.” Still a lie.
“Yes, well, Edge is his best friend, and he’s just arrived. That was so thoughtful of you, dear.”
I took a step back, out of her embrace. “I’ll come back later.”
“Where are you staying? We’re across the way at the Sofitel.”
“I…um…am staying with friends of our family.” That was a lie too; I was staying in the same hotel they were.
“Oh, that’s nice. Is it close by?”
“Not too far.” I took another step back. “I’ll see you soon, yes?”
Margaret looked perplexed. “You don’t want to wait with us?”
“I have an errand to run, but then I’ll come back. Okay?”
That seemed to appease her.
“We’ll all have dinner later, then.”
I cringed once my back was turned. Soon enough, she’d know her son didn’t want me here.
I waited until long after visiting hours were over before going back to the hospital. I sneaked past the security guard and ducked into the restroom. I waited a few minutes, came out, and walked to the bank of elevators.
No one stopped me until I was about to walk into the burn center.
“Excuse me, who are you here to see?” asked a woman seated behind a desk.
“Mylos…Miles…Stone.”
“And you are?”