“How are you?” She held onto his biceps as she stepped back, examining his face. “Oh, he’s bad.”
“I’m fine,” Darren said, casting a glance at Bonnie. She too wore pity in her eyes, and Darren didn’t need that. “Honestly, you guys. I’m okay.”
“So what happened?” Layla asked, and that was the question that launched the next two hours of conversation. By the end of it, Darren was no closer to a solution, but he also didn’t feel like someone had clawed their way into his chest and ripped out his heart.
So, progress.
He went to bed before everyone else after volunteering to help Sam with the early morning chores the next day. In the new and unused bedroom, Darren fell to his knees and prayed. Prayed to express his gratitude for his family. For his safety. For his health.
At the very end, a
