Page 61 of Am I the Only One

“Apart from him trashing his room and kicking a hole in the wall, Matthew has been refusing to eat. He’s demanding we move his roommate.”

“Well, move his roommate.”

“It isn’t that simple, Ms. Ashford. We have no empty beds, and moving him would just cause more chaos among the other residents who also respond to change in similar ways as Matthew does.”

“When was the last time he ate?” I ask as Luca walks into my room, watching me with curiosity.

“Three days ago. We tried giving him a PediaSure when he woke up this morning, but he refused and became even more agitated. Ever since, he’s been demanding to see his parents.”

My heart slips a few ribs down, and I hate myself for leaving him alone and still confused about Mom and Dad.

“I know you’re in DC, but if there’s a way you could come ... it’s just turning into an urgent situation that’s causing a disturbance among the other residents.”

“No, I understand,” I say. “I’ll pack a bag and head out now. It’s about a ten-hour drive for me, but I’ll get there as quickly as I can.”

“What’s going on?” Luca asks when I end the call and drop the phone onto my bed.

Rushing over to the closet, I get my suitcase. “I have to go back home. My brother needs me.”

“Is everything okay?”

I pull clothes from their hangers and toss them onto the bed. “He’s upset about his roommate and refuses to eat. They can’t seem to calm him down.” Grabbing a few more items from the dresser, I add, “They said he won’t stop asking to see our parents.” The words tangle in my throat, balling up in a lump of emotion, but I don’t stop moving as I go into the bathroom and start gathering toiletries.

“Let me come with you,” he says when I walk back to the suitcase and dump everything in.

“What? No. I’ll be fine. It isn’t the first time this has happened.”

Luca grabs my wrist, forcing me to stop and pay attention to him. “Let me come. Just let me be there for you.” His tone borders on need. “Please.”

I want to push back and tell him no, but there’s something deep inside me whispering yes.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” he asserts. “Whatever you’re worried about, don’t be.”

“It’s just that ... Matthew isn’t—”

“The only one who’s uncomfortable here is you, not me, okay?” he states with an encouraging nod, and when I find myself nodding with him, he smiles.

“Just hurry because it’s a long drive.”

Emma

It’s almost eight o’clock when we arrive at Valley Crest. The car hasn’t even come to a complete stop when I open the door. Luca doesn’t try to tame my eagerness, in fact, he’s only a few steps behind me as I rush for the door.

I stop by the front desk and ask to see my brother. I’m unable to sit still as we wait. My knee bounces as I stare impatiently at the door, waiting for one of the nurses to come get me. I’m consumed with irritation that they didn’t call me sooner. Along with the irritation lies the guilt. I know it isn’t my fault that he’s in this place, but he’s depending on me to get him out. If I had the means, I would pull him out of this place and find him the best home there is. I’m broke, though, and that sixty grand Carly has given me will only get the two of us by for a little while before it dries up.

When Luca’s hand lands on my knee that won’t stop bouncing, I give him a weak smile—so weak I doubt he can see it.

“Emma, hi,” Maggie, one of the nurses I’ve come to know, greets. “Sorry if I kept you waiting.”

I stand. “It’s fine.” I turn back to Luca, worried about how he will react if I take him back to where Matthew is, fearing the other residents will freak him out, and ask, “Do you mind waiting here while I go get him?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Just give me a few minutes.”

Maggie directs me through the secured double doors and down the hallway that leads to the housing unit.

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