The hospital hallway was too bright, too sterile, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead like static in Leo's brain.
He sat in a plastic chair outside the emergency room, elbows on his knees, hands clasped tight, staring at the scuffed linoleum floor.
Beside him, Lila trembled, arms wrapped around herself, tears streaming silently down her face.
Inside the room, doctors moved quickly, voices low and urgent, machines beeping in rhythm Leo couldn't decipher.
His mother was in there.
Unconscious.
Unreachable.
Leo's hands shook.
Please. Please be okay. Please—
A sob broke the silence.
Leo looked up.
Lila's face was crumpling, shoulders shaking, breath coming in gasps. "It's my fault," she choked out. "It's all my fault—"
"Lila, no—"
"It is!" Her voice cracked, rising. "If I had just listened to her—if I hadn't been so selfish about the stupid contest—"
