Voices. Unclear words. I gently crease my eyelids open but quickly close them again when the bright white light from the ceiling hits my eyes. A familiar hand repeatedly brushes my forearm so I angle my head to my side and attempt to open my eyes one more time. My mother who’s sitting beside me offers her brittle smile. Though I would like to smile back, I’m too weak to do so.
“You’re okay?” I ask.
“I am,” my mother responds with teary eyes. “I’m sorry I made you worried. Nico stole my phone. Just found out when one of the police officers returned it to me and told me that it was used to lure you.”
“You mean, you’re not with Nico?”
She shakes her head. “He asked me for a dinner. I agreed. But he cancelled it when Chaz’s bodyguards refused to leave me with him.”
I press my lips togeth
