Chapter 62: Back Home
Apollo lay unconscious on the hospital bed, his face pale but peaceful. His father sat nearby, his worry evident in every furrow of his brow, every restless shift of his posture. Beside him, Amari sat rigid, exhaustion etched into his features, but his gaze never strayed from Apollo.
Apollo’s dad glanced over at Amari, his voice soft but firm. "Amari, you should get some rest. You look like you’re about to collapse."
Amari shook his head quickly, his tone sharper than he intended. "No. I’m fine." His eyes didn’t budge from Apollo, the quiet determination keeping him rooted in place.
Apollo’s dad sighed, recognizing the stubbornness but choosing not to fight it. He didn’t have the energy for a back-and-forth. The room was steeped in silence until the door burst open, and Apollo’s family rushed in, frantic and loud.
Apollo’s mother shoved past Amari without noticing him, her urgency overpowering any sense of awareness. She leaned over her son, clutching his limp body as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"My boy! My boy!" she sobbed, hugging him as if she could shield him from whatever pain had left him in this state.
Apollo’s father stepped forward, his voice calm but carrying a weight of reassurance. "He’s just asleep," he said. "The whole ordeal clearly drained him. He’ll wake up soon, I promise."
Her sobs only grew louder. "Oh, my Apollo," she whispered through trembling lips. "What were you thinking? Why would you do something so dangerous?"
Amari’s voice cut through the room, low but steady. "We were... trying to save Nana."
Apollo’s mom spun toward him, her tear-streaked face etched with frustration. "Why didn’t you come to us? Why didn’t you ask the adults for help—like any normal kids would?"
Amari lowered his gaze, guilt weighing on him like lead. "We wanted to," he admitted quietly, "but we thought it might be too late."
Her shoulders shook as the tears intensified. It was too much for Amari to bear. Without another word, he slipped out of the room, leaving the family to their grief. He wandered into the hallway, slumping into a chair as his thoughts spiraled into blame. The possibility of losing both Nana and Apollo haunted him, the weight of their lives pressing heavily on his chest.