Amy and Ephram sat on a bench just outside the hospital, not talking, just taking in the cool, fresh mountain air. Ephram had taken Amy out of the waiting room as his father had continued to explain to the rest of their friends, because she had been feeling faint.
Ephram glanced at her for a moment, to make sure she was still alright. Amy was staring out into the mountains, in some sort of a trance. He sighed, why did this always have to happen when things were going well? He had told Amy how he felt, and she had just wanted to be friends. He had been fine with that; it was better to be friends than not to have her in his life at all.
It was harder than he thought though. Looking at her, talking with her, knowing that she could never see him as more than a friend. It hurt him, even though he knew that she would never hurt him intentionally.
Ephram had vowed to himself that he would try again with her, after things had settled down. Things were finally beginning to slow down and go back to normal when Colin's decided to have a second and more dangerous surgery. And now, well, it wasn't like he could try again now, while Colin was fighting for his life.
"Ephram?" Amy's soft and fragile voice broke through his thoughts.
"Yeah?" he replied, turning to look at her.
"What - what if he doesn't make it? What am I going to do?" she asked, looking at him with tears in her eyes.
The feebleness in her speech struck a nerve in him, and he took her hand in his.
"Amy, there's a really good chance that he will make it." Ephram replied, but when she opened her mouth to argue, he continued. "But, if he doesn't, you will get through this, you are one of the strongest people I know. And you will have the support of everyone, including me, throughout this no matter what happens."
Amy managed a small smile, and squeezed his hand.
"Thanks, Ephram, I really don't know what I'd do without you…" she whispered, giving him a hug.
"I'll always be here, Amy." he replied quietly in her ear.
His heart skipped a beat at the meaning of his words, and mentally kicked himself for saying it. She was really upset right now, and he was afraid that she might push him away at the mention of their 'relationship'. But he was relieved when Amy just hugged him tighter and didn't reply.
"Guys?" Bright stood in the doorway of the entrance of the doorway.
Ephram and Amy pulled apart and Amy wiped tears away from her eyes that Ephram had not known were there.
"What, Bright? Is something wrong?" Amy's voice quavered, and she quickly got up.
When Ephram joined her, Bright had to hide a small smile, "No, no, sorry to frighten you. We were all just wondering where you were, and I wanted to make sure that you were okay. Dr. Brown's done explaining everything, so if you want to come inside, we can all talk."
Amy looked at Ephram, as if asking permission, and Ephram nodded slightly.
"Alright," she answered quietly.
So with Ephram on one side of Amy and Bright on the other, the three headed back into the hospital.
