It was because I could feel him trying to stay.

PART 9

On the morning of the procedure, the hospital corridors looked oddly familiar.

Only this time Callum was the person wearing the identification band, and I was the one standing with a bag of belongings in my arms.

Vincent came by before his shift.

He hadn’t slept much, and he apologized again for keeping Callum’s confidence so long.

I could see that it had cost him dearly.

“You were trying to be his friend,” I said.