Page 75 of Styx & Stones

“This is serious, Styx. No more running away to Disneyland,” my dad says.

“Oh, Disneyland. That sounds fun,” Maggie says. My mom glares. “Right, well, everything looks good. We’ll come check on that wound and change your dressing a little later.”

Maggie finally takes the hint and makes herself scarce.

“We almost lost you, kid.” Dad runs a hand through his hair.

“But you didn’t,” I assure them both. “I’m still here, and I need to see her. Please? Can’t you go talk to Maggie, and Stones’ parents?”

“You heard the woman, Styx. You can’t leave this room.”

“Sepsis is not contagious.”

“No, it’s not. But, honey, Alaska just had brain surgery. Are you sure you want to take that risk?”

“Fuck!”

“Maybe in a few days,” Mom says, and grimaces when I shake my head. “I know it’s not what you want to hear, Styx, but perhaps you can visit with her once you’re up and walking around again?”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I need to see her. I need to see with my own two eyes that she’s okay, but the Sepsis Nazi over there isn’t going to let me.

“Dad, did you get our phones from the hotel?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Did you give Alaska hers?”

He nods. “I gave it to her mom.”

“Can I have mine?”

“Styx, you need to rest,” Mom warns.

“I’ll rest when I know she’s okay.”

She arches her brow in that way that only seriously pissed off moms can, but she relents, fishes the phone from her bag, and hands it to me.

I tap the screen. The black abyss glares back at me.It’s dead. I want to fucking scream.

“It’s okay,” Dad says. “I’ll go get your charger from the truck. In the meantime, I’ll talk to her parents.”

“Thanks.”

“Jesus.” Dad shakes his head and turns to my mom. “Was I this much of an asshole when it came to you?”

“Completely.” Mom grins. I haven’t seen her do that in ... well, I can’t remember the last time.

“True love, right?” Dad says as he heads out of my room.

“Asshole,” I say, but I glance at my mom, who’s gaping after him.

Maybe when I’m finally dead and buried, they’ll get their shit together.

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