Page 167 of Silent Damage

I hear the chair screech, and I dart away from the door, but stay close enough to hear still.

“Jason, you’re excellent at what you do. You weren’t defeated. You conquered and then realized there’s a better option. Take the better option.”

I hear Tobias’s boots pad the floor, then Jason says, “Tobias. Thank you.”

“Sure thing, little pup.”

The footsteps grow louder, and I run out of the room to avoid being caught. I look at the floor when Tobias exits, trying to be inconspicuous, but Tobias walks right up to me.

Our eyes meet, and I can see on his face that he knows I heard everything.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

He simply nods and walks off, and the air around me somehow gets warmer the further he walks away.

When I rush back into Jason’s room, his eyes are glassy.

“Hey,” I say sympathetically.

Jason holds out his hand, and I rush toward him. We embrace, and I squeeze his body as much as I can without hurting him.

“I love you so much,” he whispers.

“I love you, too.”

Chapter 40

Jason

Belmont races by as the car weaves along side streets and main roads. That yucky, gray feeling I used to get when I looked at these streets isn’t here anymore. All I feel is gratitude for still being alive to see this place.

I look at the back of Doug's head as we drive home from the hospital. He's visited a lot more than I expected. He doesn't say much, but he's been present.

Linda sits in the passenger seat, fiddling with the radio.

Gabe's hand rests on my leg, and I look at him. His soft brown eyes make all of the nerves in my belly disappear. I lean in and kiss him.

"Everything okay?" he asks.

"Yeah," I reply.

The car turns onto the park's gravel road and comes to a stop in front of our trailer. Gabe's out first, rushing to the trunk to get the walker. He opens the door and sets it up before helping me out of the backseat.

Once I'm stable, I attempt to walk to the front door, but I can't. The gravel road makes it nearly impossible to move this damn walker.

Gabe tries to help, the two of us struggling.

"Here," Doug says while rushing over. "Hold onto Gabe's shoulder." Doug moves the walker, asking Linda to take it inside, then approaches. "I'll carry you."

Before I can even realize what's happening, Doug is closing in, encouraging me to relax. Linda hurries to open the door, and Doug carries me inside. But instead of setting me down on the floor once we're in, he carefully places me on the couch.

"How you feeling? Hurt? Need pain meds?" He doesn't make direct eye contact with me while he asks the questions. Instead, he rushes about the trailer, picking up loose items on the floor to ensure the walker has a clear path.

"I'm good. Thanks."

He stops right before me and asks, "You sure?"

Our eyes meet, and Doug's face shifts. I feel him studying me, staring at the swelling and bruising.