Page 105 of Phantom Flower

Dimitri’s eyes softened. He looked almost surprised, like he had not expected me to choose him over everyone else. He leaned down again and pressed another kiss to my forehead, then one to the tip of my nose, then the corner of my mouth.

“Okay,” he murmured against my lips.

He settled beside me on the bed, careful not to jostle the IV lines or my bandaged legs. One arm slid around my shoulders, pulling me gently against his chest. I let myself melt into him.

“I was scared I would not see you again,” I whispered. “I was scared of being somewhere you were not. I do not know what happens after death, but I did not want to be there if you were not.”

Dimitri cupped my cheek with one large hand, thumb brushing away a tear I had not realized had fallen.

“I’m here.”

***

Marco stepped into the room after Dimitri gave us both some time alone.

He looked smaller. Skinnier than I remembered. His cheeks were slightly sunken, and the soft cream sweater he wore hung looser on his frame than it used to. There were dark circles under his eyes that no amount of rest could fully hide. It had been weeks since I last saw him properly, ever since Dimitri started keeping me away from school and the outside world. Marco had been texting me, of course, but it was not the same. I could see now how much those weeks had taken from him. He looked weak. How had he changed so much in a few weeks?

Two big black ribbons were tied in his dark curls that day, one on each side.

The moment his eyes landed on me, tears filled them instantly.

“Rei…”

He crossed the room in a few stumbling steps and threw himself at the side of the bed, careful not to jostle the IV lines or my bandaged legs. His arms wrapped around my shoulders as best as he could, and I felt his whole body trembling against mine.

“Are you okay?” he whispered through the tears.

I hugged him back as tightly as my tired arms would allow, resting my cheek against the top of his head. The familiar scent of his strawberry shampoo made my eyes sting.

“Don’t cry, sunshine,” I murmured, rubbing slow circles on his back. “I’m okay. See? I’m right here. I’ll recover in no time. The doctors said my legs will be fine eventually. It’s just going to take some physical therapy.”

Marco pulled back just enough to look at me. His big ribbons bobbed with the movement.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so, so sorry, Rei. I haven’t been a good friend. I let you deal with everything alone for so long.”

I reached out and gently adjusted one of his crooked ribbons, smoothing it down.

“You’re not a bad friend,” I said softly. “You have never been a bad friend, Marco. You have always been there for me, even when you were terrified. Remember how you stood in front of me that day in the hallway when everyone was calling me names? You were shaking so hard, but you still did it. You’re the bravest person I know.”

Marco sniffled.

“I missed you.”

I smiled weakly and squeezed his hand.

“I missed you too,” I said.

Marco let out a small, watery laugh, wiping his eyes again.

“And I promise I won’t be a bad friend anymore. I’ll even learn how to make those Japanese snacks you like so you don’t have to eat Dimitri’s sugar bombs.”

I laughed again, louder this time, and it felt good.

“You’d do that for me?”

“Of course I would,” Marco said. “You’re my best friend, Rei. My only real friend. I’d do anything for you.”

Kento was next.