«Hello. »
«Hi. »
He looks worse than I thought, but his smile is enough to make me forget the tubes and machinery surrounding his immaculate white hospital bed. It doesn't look particularly sneaky or evil, but Phil warned me already not to judge by something's appearance only.
«I'm Dan. »

«I know. » He smiles again. I think he got this habit from his mother.
«How are you? » I feel so awkward at the moment, but immensely happy at the same time. Some small part of me also feels worried. Protective.
Phil looks so small, all wrapped up in that bed sheet, like something could just reach up from under the bed and snatch him away from me.
«I'm sorry. »

It takes me a moment to realize it's his voice and not mine that's breaking the silence. Nonetheless, I don't understand, and this must be obvious from my expression, because he shakes his head a little and starts explaining.
«I wish we didn't have to meet like this. » And he waves a hand around, towards the tubes, towards the machines, towards the room as whole.
«And you're apologizing? Are you kidding me? »
I must admit this whole hospital ordeal does give everything that touch of drama, which I so desperately try to avoid all the time, but still- This is Phil we're talking about. It's not like I'm going anywhere, even if the place is depressing as hell.
There's a chair next to the bed, but I ignore it and sit on the mattress instead, following some sort of instinct I didn't know I had. It doesn't seem to bother him, though, even though I am, in a way, looming over him to some extent.
It feels right.
It's quiet, but it feels so, so right.