Tyler came back with two cups of vending machine coffee. "Starbucks is closed," he said. "We'll have to manage with this swill."

 

"I feel like I need a punch card for this hospital," Charlie joked, taking the cup from him. "Tenth visit free."

 

"What did the doctors say?"

 

"From what I can gather, he's had a stroke."

 

"What? He's barely twenty-eight. How could he...?"

 

"He hasn't been taking his meds. That's what they're hypothesizing from the blood work, anyway."

 

"Why the fuck not?!"

 

"I don't know," Charlie replied, staring blankly at his cup of coffee. "He hit a really rough patch after Fitz died. I didn't think it'd gotten this bad...that he hated living so much he'd stop taking his meds."

 

"I can't believe they told you all that."

 

"I might've lied and said I was his partner," Charlie said. Tyler started laughing and Charlie slapped his arm. "What?"

 

"It's just...when you were in your coma? He said the same thing."

 

"Christ," Charlie said joining in on the laughter.

 

"So did you mean it? Are you really through with Boystown?"

 

"How did you...?"

 

"I went out for some air after I broke things off with Mason. I kinda overheard."

 

"I've lived here my whole adult life. And all I've had every day of my life is drama."

 

"Maybe it's not the neighborhood," Tyler teased.

 

"You're not wrong," Charlie smirked. "But it's also symptomatic of the problem, you know?"

 

"So you're really gonna move to Africa to be with Ben?"

 

"We broke up."

 

"Oh. Sorry I didn't..."

 

"It's fine. You've been busy."

 

"So is that why Tom came over the other day? Are the two of you getting back together?"

 

"I don't know."

 

"Geez, then Josh was flirting with you like mad tonight."

 

"See what I mean?"

 

"When it rains it pours I guess?"

 

"Yeah, but I didn't ask for a fucking flood," Charlie laughed.

 

"I hope you don't go," Tyler said. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

 

"With the year you've had, I feel like you'd be fine by yourself."

 

Tyler looked grim for a moment. "Did they say how long we'd be this way?"

 

Charlie shook his head. "It's gonna be touch and go for a while. But there's now way to know." Tyler began to cry and Charlie held him as the others started filtering in, having stayed behind to close up shop on the benefit.

 

*

It was 3 AM when Charlie was allowed to see Hunter. Everyone else had gone home after many promises to be kept updated from Charlie. Hunter lay there with tubes coming out of him. Charlie sat and held his hand. Even in the fog of his own coma, almost exactly a year ago, Charlie could vaguely remember Hunter having some choice words for him as he lay there. Charlie wanted to give those words back or something equally encouraging. Charlie wanted to be strong for Hunter the way Hunter had been strong for him. But mostly, Charlie wanted Hunter to wake up.

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