“Lila,” I called out, my voice trembling. She turned, surprise flickering across her features. “We need to talk.”
We moved to a small consultation room, fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. “What did Walter tell you?” I demanded, folding my arms tightly. “Did he reach out for help?”
“He confided in me about his struggles,” Lila responded, her eyes pleading. “But I swear, it wasn’t romantic. I was just trying to support him.”
“Support him?” I echoed, disbelief creeping into my tone. “By what, abandoning us?”
She flinched, but held her ground. “He was scared. We were all scared.”
“You should have directed him to me!” I shot back, frustration spilling over. “We’re his family!”
“I know, I know,” she said, her voice softening. “But he felt so alone.”
As I turned to leave, anger simmering within me, I caught sight of Walter through the glass window of the nurses’ station. He was pacing, fists clenched, his expression a storm of emotions. I paused, straining to hear the words flowing between them.
