When morning came, both Elliott and Laura were back bright and early. TJ was in and out of being awake for a few hours, and he no longer needed the oxygen mask, which made me happy.

“A welcoming party for little ol’ me?” TJ remarked, lying helpless in the hospital bed. His speech was a bit slurred—the doctors had warned us about that—and he looked so tired. Seeing him that way made my stomach knot up with fear. His eyes were slightly open, and I noticed a small shake in his left hand, but I tried my best to not reveal my concern.

“You scared me, TJ,” I said, walking over to him and kissing his forehead.

“You scared all of us,” Laura agreed.

“Even the dark shadow standing far away in the doorframe?” he asked.

We all turned to see Elliott, who was keeping his distance. His hands were stuffed into his dark jeans, and there was hardly any emotion to be read on his face. “Even me.”

TJ opened his mouth to speak, but instead of words, he began to cough, making us all hurry to his side. He shook his head, saying he was okay.

“Just take it slow,” Laura instructed. “Son, can you get that cup of water on the windowsill for him?”

Elliott walked by me, slightly brushing my arm, and my soul began to burn.

I shook my head, trying to force the nerves away. I turned back to TJ as he sipped the water. “I was getting nervous you weren’t going to make it.”

“I always show up, maybe not always on time”—he winked—“but I always show up.”

A nurse stepped into the room, somewhat surprised to see us all standing there in the small space. “Hi, I’m Nurse Rose. I’m in charge of watching over TJ for the next few hours of my shift, and although I’m sure you’re all excited to see him, I’m afraid we’re going to keep it to family members only at this time.”

“Don’t you s-see it, Rose?” TJ murmured. “This is my sister and my niece and nephew. It’s pretty clear. We all look alike.”

Rose smiled. “Yeah, I see that, TJ, but still, I think perhaps only one of them at a time to visit will help. You need your rest.”

“We’ll wait outside,” I told Laura. Then, I approached TJ and kissed his forehead once more. “It’s so good to hear your voice.”

“Are you okay, Jasmine?” he asked, making me laugh. He was worrying about me as he lay in a hospital bed.

“Quit worrying about me, friend. I’m always okay, TJ.”

“We’ll get back to your music lessons soon,” he told me.

I laughed. “No rush. You just get some rest.”

He agreed, and I watched as Elliott moved closer to him. He placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a small smile. It was so small that if I hadn’t been addicted to staring at the familiar stranger, I would’ve missed it.

“If I knew all it would take to get you to visit was a stroke, I would’ve done it ages ago,” TJ joked.

“I’m ha-ha—” Elliott paused and shut his eyes. His face turned slightly red and veins popped out a bit in his neck as his hands formed fists. “I’m h-happ—” he tried again, but the words weren’t forming for him at all. There he was—the shy boy I’d once known.

He reopened his eyes and frowned.

TJ placed his right hand on Elliott’s tense fist. “I’m happy, too, son.” And just like that, with TJ’s touch, Elliott’s body began to relax. TJ provided that same kind of comfort for me. I was certain it was like that for everyone who knew him.

The two of us left the hospital room and headed into the waiting area then sat beside one another. This time, there was no seat between us. We were so close, but still felt miles apart.

The silence around us was eerie. My mind was swirling with things I wanted to say, but I wasn’t certain how to say them. Even so, I’d try.

I crossed my legs and cleared my throat. My lips parted to speak, but he found words before me.

“How do you know him?” he asked, referring to TJ.

“I’d go to his corner every day before work and listen to him play. He also recently started giving me music lessons. He’s, um…” My words trailed off, and he stared forward. A tear rolled down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away. “He’s one of my favorite people in the world,” I told him.

Elliott clasped his hands together and studied the floor.

“Why that corner?” he asked.

“What?”

“Why did you go to that corner?”

I snickered lightly. “Don’t ask questions you already know the answers to.”

“You still sing, though?”

I nodded. “TJ said you don’t play anymore.”

“No.”

“That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.”

He looked so defeated, so tired. Elliott was too young to be so broken down by the world, too young to know the level of sadness I saw in his eyes.

But then again, so was I.

I had so many things I wanted to say, but seeing his hard exterior made me feel uncomfortable speaking up at all. I wanted to ask and tell him everything.

Where have you been?

What makes you cry?

What makes you smile?

What do you do for a living?

Did you miss me?

I missed you.

Most of all, I wanted to hold him, to hug him, to remember him, but I knew I couldn’t.

I couldn’t because I knew that was the last thing he wanted. His body language told me that. We sat quietly for some time, saying everything in our minds, but nothing out loud until I couldn’t deal with the silence any longer.

“I thought I’d never see you again,” I confessed, fully raw to my own emotions. “And then when I did see you the way you kissed me—”

“That was a m-mistake,” he cut in.

“It didn’t feel like one.”

“And yet, it was.” He shrugged before he stood up and walked away, without thought of turning around. He left me completely baffled.

I stayed in the waiting room as long as I could, waiting for Elliott to return, but he didn’t come back. I went back into TJ’s room for my visit, and when we finished our talk, Elliott was still missing. That sat heavily in my heart for more than one reason. I left the hospital and headed into work, dazed and confused.

Elliott Adams had changed so much, and yet he was still so much the same.

He’d been broken into so many pieces, and yet he was still fully himself.