Chapter 6
The next morning, Camryn's fever had finally broken.
The doctor came in for his rounds, flipped through Camryn's chart, and nodded.
The doctor said, "Her temperature's stable, and the lung scan looks better. We can take her off the breathing support this afternoon.
"After two more days of observation, she can be moved to a regular room."
Layla's mom's legs gave out, and Layla's dad caught her just in time.
Camryn's parents leaned into each other, their shoulders trembling.
Layla stood a few steps away, her hands and feet icy cold.
She pushed open the door and walked in.
Camryn was already awake, his big eyes looking dazed as he stared up at the ceiling.
When he saw Layla, his eyes lit up for a second, then dimmed right away.
Camryn quickly turned his head and buried his face in the pillow, leaving just the soft, fuzzy back of his head showing.
No hesitation, no second thoughts, it was pure instinct.
Layla felt like someone had punched her in the chest, her heart sinking with a dull ache.
She pulled a gray and white alpaca plushie out of her bag, the one she'd picked up from that old tourist town. It hadn't even unwrapped it yet.
"Camryn, look, Mommy brought you a present, a soft, cuddly alpaca, just for you," Layla said.
Camryn shrank back into the bed.
"Camryn, just look at Mommy, okay?" Layla pleaded softly.
From under the covers came a muffled, tiny voice, every word heavy and slow.
"I don't want Mommy," Camryn mumbled.
There was a pause.
"I don't want Mommy."
He said it again.
Layla rushed over and gently patted Camryn's back. "Camryn, Mommy's here now. Didn't you say you missed me yesterday?"
"Mommy's gone," Camryn whimpered, clutching the edge of his pillow, his voice shaky with tears. "Daddy said Mommy's gone."
Suddenly, Camryn rolled over.
Tears clung to his lashes, his cheeks bright red, and he spoke in that choppy, toddler way.
"Mommy doesn't want me anymore."
The alpaca plushie dropped from Layla's hands and hit the floor.
Alfie hurried in, bent down, picked Camryn up in his arms, gently patting his back, his voice gentle as he spoke.
"Daddy never said Mommy didn't want you, sweetie. Daddy just said Mommy went far away, but she'll be back soon," Alfie said softly.
"Is Mommy back?" Camryn whispered.
"She's back. Look," Alfie said.
Alfie turned, making sure Camryn could see Layla.
Camryn shot Layla a quick glance, then immediately buried his face in Alfie's shoulder, his tiny hands clutching his hoodie so tightly his knuckles turned white.
That move was so familiar that it made Layla's heart ache.
It was like Camryn did it every single day.
Layla stood there, her fingers slowly curling into fists.
Alfie gently patted Camryn's back, his gaze slipping past her shoulder to rest on Layla's face for a moment before turning away.
Layla searched his eyes, but found no anger or blame there.
Only a quiet, deep sadness, like autumn leaves drifting down, silent and heavy.
Suddenly, Layla realized, these past five days, Camryn hadn't just been fighting an illness.
He'd made Alfie the only person he felt safe with.
Layla's place in Camryn's world had been empty for five whole days.