Chapter 39: Chapter 39: I'm Sorry

Erin takes a deep breath before limping inside his house.

“Erin?” Natalie glances at the door from the sofa when it opens. “Erin! You’re awake. John!” She pulls him into a hug as John thunders down the stairs.

Natalie steps back and wipes her eyes while John wraps his arms around Erin. “What are you doing here, son? Why didn’t you call us?”

“Um...” Erin smiles nervously.

Ben takes a step inside the house, closing the door behind him. “Part of the aftercare of the injury means Erin needs to recover alone for a bit.”

Natalie scoffs, “Unbelievable.” She bends down to get a closer look at Erin’s leg. “After all the fuss Victor made ’bout you havin’ to stay in his room, not even a medical ward but his bedroom, and he just left you waltz in here by yourself?”

“I mean ... Ben’s with me...” Erin pouts and pulls Natalie back so she’s standing straight in front of him. His eye twitches as his mask wavers, all the emotions he placed back into the glued jar falling out of the cracks.