Chapter 44It was a long night of restless sleep, waking to a sky still dark with stars.
Lying in bed, I thumbed through my texts to Rocco because he was on my mind with the startling news of his hospitalization. I scrolled through unread texts from him in the last few weeks, and wondered what was happening in his world.
I toiled away at the what-ifs rolling around in my head, debating whether or not I had seen the last of my best friend. Was it a final goodbye? Would I see him again? In retrospection, I thought the latest heartbreaking news pointed to a suicide call for help. Reading between the lines, I recognized the unread text as a parting between friends.
When I forced myself out of bed close to seven-thirty, I showered, brushed my teeth and dressed quickly, filling my backpack wit
