#Chapter 32- He Stayed

Cora The hospital room was quiet except for the beep of the monitors. Kingston hadn’t left, not even once, not to make a call, not to check in with the rest of the world that I knew was demanding his attention. He stayed. For Riley. For me. I turned my head as Kingston shifted slightly in his seat. He looked exhausted, the shadows under his eyes deeper than I’d ever seen them, but he was watching Riley with that focused intensity. “You don’t have to stay,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “You’ve done more than enough. Riley got the help he needed in time because of you.” His eyes snapped to me. “I know I don’t have to stay. I want to.” “Why?” I asked. I couldn’t help my curiosity. “He’s a good boy, and I… I want to make sure he’s ok.” Something about the way he had said it touched me. I felt an ache growing in my chest. Riley stirred then, his eyelids fluttering, a little sound leaving his throat like a whimper. “Riley?” I reached for his hand. His eyes bli