Lori and Josh sat impatiently in the waiting room.
"I wish they would come tell us something." Lori hissed, looking down the hall where her parents had disappeared it felt hours before.
Josh sat quiet, lost in thought, in fear. "He can't die." He murmured to himself.
"Has there been any news?" A voice made them jump.
"Amanda." Lori stood, half hugging the girl who was her neighbor and new found friend. "You didn't have to come."
Amanda shrugged. "I wanted to. Besides, waiting at home was worse."
"He's in surgery. He lost a lot of blood and his lung collapsed. And he might have a concussion." Lori tried to keep her voice steady.
"How terrible." Amanda glanced over at the lone figure by the window. "How's he . . ."
"Not so great. They've gotten pretty close over the last couple of months." Lori turned as she heard footsteps.
Nicole and Steven sat down without a word. Their eyes betrayed the fear their hearts felt.
"Mom?" Josh spoke up, uncertain.
Nicole shook her head. "Nothing yet." She reached out and pulled her son into a bear hug. Once upon a time, Josh had loved curling up next to his mother, cuddling in the safety of her arms. She missed those days and would have loved for them to return. But not like this. Not under the veil of losing something they had all grown to love, each in their own way.
"It's going to be okay." Steven said, trying to rally his motley family together. But in his heart he wasn't so sure.