Nothing about this was fair. Elliot didn’t say that aloud, though. Everybody already knew it, anyway. Elliot didn’t fault Rae for how she broke down. He’d have done the same thing. “I know you won’t. Love you, Sunshine,” he told her. For the last time.
Rae left the room and Elliot felt the heavy weight of sadness crushing his chest. That was the last time he’d ever see her. There was no going back. No pending reunion later on down the road. This was it. He was glad Leah and his friend had been here to convince Rae to leave, because Elliot wouldn’t have been able to do it himself. It took all he had to keep from protesting her departure.
Reluctantly, he pulled his gaze away from the door and met the eyes of his friend. “It wasn’t, but…” There wasn’t much any of them could do about it. A heavy sigh turned into a coughing fit that made his lungs and throat burn.
With considerable effort, Elliot pushed himself up higher against his pillows, which allowed him to breathe a little easier. Not that that really mattered anymore. When he was settled, he attempted to give Evan a smile and lifted his uninjured hand up slightly off the bed, offering it for Evan to take.
“Feels like you and I have known each other a lot longer than five months, doesn’t it?” Felt like they’d known each other for years. “You remember the first conversation we ever had? Confronting me about calling Lilah Queen of the Hothouses?” He gave a weak smile in lieu of his usual chuckle so that he wouldn’t start coughing again. “Figured you and Stone were gonna try and form an ass-kicking tag team just because of that little joke…”
Elliot looked at Evan seriously. “I owe you so much, man. For all you’ve done for me. I’d thank you, but… it doesn’t feel like it’d be enough. You saved my life, you know? Gave me a second chance. You became like a brother to me.”