ROOM 7
Chapter Twenty-Four: The Departure
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The news came on a Tuesday afternoon.
Alex walked into Room 7 with his phone in his hand and a look on his face that stopped every conversation in the room. He didn't say anything at first. Just stood there. Reading. Rereading. The color draining from his face.
Lyra noticed first. She always noticed first.
"Alex? What's wrong?"
He looked up. His eyes found hers. Something in his expression made her stomach drop.
"My grandmother," he said. "She's in the hospital. In London. My mother called. I have to go."
The room went very quiet.
---
Part One: The News
"Your grandmother?" Lyra was on her feet. "The one whose house we stayed in? The one with the garden and the porch and the—"
"She had a stroke this morning. My mother says she's stable, but—" He stopped. Swallowed. "I need to be there."
"When?" Jay asked.
"Tonight. There's a flight at 9 PM. My father booked it."
"Tonight?" Lyra's voice cracked.
He looked at her. "Tonight."
The room was still. Sixteen people holding their breath. Sixteen people watching the space between Alex and Lyra.
Ci N spoke first. "London is 6,700 miles away. Flight time is approximately fourteen hours. Time difference is eight hours. If you leave at 9 PM, you'll arrive at—"
"Ci N," Rakki said quietly.
He stopped. Looked at Lyra's face. "I'll be quiet."
He sat down.
Lyra hadn't moved. She was still standing in the middle of the room, staring at Alex.
"How long?" she asked.
"Three days. Maybe four. Depending on how she's doing."
Three days. Seventy-two hours. Four thousand three hundred and twenty minutes.
She nodded slowly. "Okay."
Alex watched her. "Lyra."
"I said okay."
"You're not okay."
"I'm fine." She smiled. It didn't reach her eyes. "Your grandmother needs you. Go. We'll be here when you get back."
He looked at her for a long moment. Then he nodded. "I need to pack."
He walked to his bed. Started pulling things from his closet. Clothes. Toiletries. His book. His charger. His movements were efficient. Methodical. The way he did everything.
Lyra watched him. Her hands were fists at her sides.
Jay walked over to her. "Lyra."
"I'm fine."
"You're not fine."
"I'm fine, Jay."
"He's coming back."
"I know."
"In three days."
"I know."
Jay took her hand. "You're allowed to be upset."
Lyra's face crumpled. Just for a second. Just enough for Jay to see. Then she smoothed it out. Pulled her hand away. Walked to her bed. Sat down. Picked up her book.
She didn't open it.
---
Part Two: The Packing
Alex packed in silence. His bag filled quickly. He was efficient. Always efficient. Clothes folded. Toiletries in a small pouch. His book on top. His charger wrapped around it.
Yuri watched from his bed. "You need anything? Snacks? David has snacks."
"I'm fine."
"Water? I have a water bottle. It's new. I only used it once."
"I'm fine, Yuri."
"Extra socks? I have—"
"Yuri." Alex looked at him. "I'm fine."
Yuri closed his mouth. Nodded. Sat on his hands.
Mica walked to the kitchen. Came back with a container. "Rice cakes. For the plane. You'll be hungry."
Calix handed him a water bottle. "For the flight. Airplanes are dry."
Freya put a small photo in his bag. "Of everyone. So you don't forget what we look like."
Erdix added a power bank. "For your phone. In case the airport doesn't have chargers."
David put a bag of chips in his bag. "For when you land. Moving is hard."
Care handed him a book. "For the flight. It's short. You'll finish it before you land."
Cole handed him a bookmark. "For the book. It's leather. My grandfather gave it to me. He said books should be marked, not folded."
Alex looked at Cole. "I can't take your grandfather's bookmark."
Cole put it in his bag. "He'd want you to have it. For the flight. For the journey."
Alex's throat tightened. "Thank you."
Ash was beside Lyra's bed. She wasn't watching Alex. She was watching Lyra.
"You should say something," Ash whispered.
"I said okay. That's enough."
"It's not enough."
"It has to be."
Ash looked at her for a long moment. Then she squeezed her hand. Walked away.
---
Part Three: The Door
Alex zipped his bag. Stood up. Looked around the room. At the sixteen beds. The sixteen desks. The sixteen people who had become something more than roommates.
He looked at Lyra.
She was on her bed. Book open. Eyes on the page. She hadn't turned it since she sat down.
He walked to her. Stopped in front of her. "Lyra."
She looked up. Her face was calm. Too calm. "You should go. You'll miss your flight."
"The car isn't here yet."
"Then wait outside. Fresh air. You'll need it for the plane."
He looked at her for a long moment. "I'm coming back."
"I know."
"In three days."
"I know."
He waited. She didn't say anything else.
"Lyra."
She closed her book. "Alex. Go. Your grandmother is waiting. Your mother is waiting. Your whole family is waiting. I'll be here when you get back. We'll all be here."
He nodded slowly. "Okay."
He picked up his bag. Walked to the door. Stopped. Looked back.
She was already looking at her book again. The same page. The one she hadn't turned.
He walked out.
The door closed behind him.
---
Part Four: The Aftermath
The room was very quiet.
Yuri sat on his bed, staring at the door. "He's gone."
"He's coming back," Mica said.
"I know. But he's gone now."
Care walked to Lyra's bed. "Lyra."
Lyra didn't look up. "I'm reading."
"Your book is upside down."
Lyra looked at the book. It was, in fact, upside down. She turned it right side up. Stared at the page.
Care sat beside her. "You can be upset."
"I'm not upset."
"You're holding your book upside down."
"It's a new reading technique. Improves comprehension."
"Lyra."
She looked at Care. Her face was still. Her eyes were bright. "He's coming back. Three days. That's nothing."
Care looked at her for a long moment. Then she stood up. Walked to Cole. Sat beside him.
Cole put his arm around her. "She's going to be okay."
"I know."
"Alex is coming back."
"I know."
"Three days."
She leaned into him. "Three days."
Ci N appeared beside Lyra's bed. He looked at her. She didn't look at him.
"I have a question," he said.
"Ci N."
"Your heart rate is elevated. Your breathing is shallow. Your pupils are dilated. These are symptoms of—"
"Ci N."
He stopped. Looked at her face.
"I know," he said quietly.
He walked back to his bed. Sat down. Picked up his fox. Held it.
Rakki sat beside him. "She'll be okay."
"I know."
"Alex will be back."
"I know."
"Three days."
He looked at Lyra. At the way she was still holding her book upside down. At the way her hands were shaking.
"Three days," he said.
---
Part Five: The Empty Bed
The night came faster than anyone expected.
Alex's bed sat empty. The sheets were still rumpled from when he'd gotten up. His pillow still had the dent from his head. His desk was clean. His chair pushed in. His charger was gone. His book was gone. The photo Freya put in his bag. The chips David packed. The rice cakes Mica made. All of it. Gone. With him.
Lyra lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She could see his bed from where she was. Empty. Waiting.
She hadn't moved in hours.
Jay walked to her bed. Sat on the edge. "Lyra."
"I'm fine."
"You've been staring at the ceiling for four hours."
"I'm thinking."
"About what?"
She was quiet for a long time. Then: "He always brings me coffee. In the morning. Every morning. Black. No sugar. The way I like it."
Jay waited.
"Tomorrow morning, he won't be here. There won't be coffee. There won't be—" She stopped.
Jay took her hand. "I'll make you coffee."
"It won't be the same."
"No. It won't."
Lyra looked at her. Her eyes were wet. "Three days is a long time."
"I know."
"What if something happens to her? What if she—" She stopped again.
"Then he'll be there. With his family. Where he needs to be."
"I know." Lyra's voice cracked. "I know. I just—"
She didn't finish. Jay held her hand. Let her be quiet.
From across the room, Ci N's voice: "In three days, Alex will walk through that door. He'll have jet lag. He'll be tired. He'll have stories about London. About his grandmother. About the flight. He'll bring something back. Probably chocolate. He knows you like chocolate."
Lyra looked at him. "How do you know that?"
"I observe. My brain works at one hundred sixty percent. I notice things."
She stared at him. Then she almost smiled. "You're impossible."
"You like it."
She didn't answer. She lay back on her pillow. Closed her eyes.
Ci N picked up his fox. Held it. "Three days is 72 hours. 4,320 minutes. 259,200 seconds. It sounds long when you count it in seconds. But seconds pass quickly. You don't notice them. They're too small."
Rakki put her hand on his arm. "Ci N."
"I'm helping."
"I know."
He was quiet. The room was quiet.
Lyra opened her eyes. "Ci N."
"Yes?"
"What time does his flight land?"
He didn't hesitate. "2:47 PM. Thursday. London time. 9:47 PM here. He'll be tired. He'll have jet lag. But he'll come straight here. Because that's where he wants to be."
Lyra looked at the ceiling. "9:47 PM. Thursday."
"9:47 PM. Thursday."
She closed her eyes. "Okay."
---
Part Six: The Morning
The next morning, Lyra woke before anyone else.
She lay in bed, listening to the room breathe. Sixteen people. Fifteen present. One missing.
She got up. Walked to the kitchen. Made coffee. Black. No sugar.
She made two cups.
She stared at the second cup for a long time. The steam rose. The coffee darkened. She watched it like it might disappear.
She picked it up. Held it. The warmth seeped through the paper. She could almost pretend—but no. He wasn't here. The cup was full. The coffee was hot. And he was 6,700 miles away.
She poured it down the sink.
The steam rose. The coffee swirled. The cup was empty.
She stood there, holding the empty cup, watching the last drops disappear.
Jay found her like that. Still. Silent. The empty cup in her hand.
"Lyra."
"He's not here."
"I know."
She set the cup down. Walked to the window. Looked out at the city. The same city. The same streets. The same buildings. Everything the same. Everything different.
"Three days," she said.
"Three days."
She turned. "I'm going to class."
"Okay."
"I'm going to take notes. I'm going to eat lunch. I'm going to come back. I'm going to do the same thing tomorrow. And the day after that. And then he'll be back."
Jay nodded. "He'll be back."
Lyra picked up her bag. Walked to the door. Stopped.
"Jay."
"Yeah."
"If he calls—"
"I'll tell him you're in class. I'll tell him you're fine. I'll tell him—"
"Tell him I'm here."
She walked out.
The door closed behind her.
---
Part Seven: The Call
Alex called that evening.
The room was full. People scattered everywhere. Mica and Calix in the kitchen. Care and Cole at the table. Freya editing photos. Erdix beside her. Yuri gaming. David snacking. Ci N reading. Rakki beside him. Ash on her bed.
Lyra on the couch. Book open. Eyes on the page. The same page she'd been on for two days.
Jay's phone buzzed. She looked at the screen. "It's Alex."
The room went still.
Jay answered. Put it on speaker.
"Alex."
"Jay." His voice was tired. Stretched thin. "Is she there?"
Everyone looked at Lyra.
She hadn't moved. Her book was open. Her eyes were on the page.
"Alex, she's—"
"I'm here," Lyra said.
She didn't look up. Her voice was steady. Too steady.
"Lyra."
"Alex."
"I landed. I'm at the hospital. My grandmother—" He stopped. Breathed. "She's okay. She's asking about you. About the house. About the garden. She wants to know if the wisteria is still blooming."
Lyra's voice cracked. "It's December. Wisteria doesn't bloom in December."
"Tell her that. She won't believe me."
Lyra almost smiled. Almost. "I'll tell her."
"She wants you to visit. When she's better. She says you need to see the garden in spring. She says—" He stopped again.
The room was very quiet.
"She says you're the only one who waters the roses right."
Lyra's hand was shaking. Her book was closed now. Her eyes were on the phone.
"How is she?"
"Tired. But she's talking. She's being stubborn. The nurses love her. She's already told them how to rearrange the flowers in her room."
"That sounds like her."
"She wants to talk to you. When she's stronger. She wants to tell you about the wisteria."
Lyra closed her eyes. "Okay."
"Lyra."
She opened her eyes. "Alex."
"I'll be home on Thursday. 9:47 PM. Ci N told me he calculated it."
Lyra looked at Ci N. He was watching her. His fox was in his lap.
"9:47," she said.
"I'll come straight to the room."
"Okay."
"Lyra."
"Alex."
He was quiet for a moment. Then: "I miss the coffee."
She laughed. It was a small sound. A broken sound. But it was a laugh. "I made you coffee this morning. Black. No sugar. I poured it down the sink."
"Why?"
"Because you weren't here to drink it."
He was quiet. She was quiet. The room was quiet.
"Three days," he said.
"Three days."
"72 hours."
"You've been talking to Ci N."
"He calculated it. For me. Before I left."
Lyra looked at Ci N. He was writing in his notebook. His pen moved fast. His forehead was wrinkled.
"I'll be there," Alex said. "9:47. Thursday."
"I'll be here."
"Lyra."
"Alex."
He didn't say anything else. She didn't either. The call ended.
Lyra sat on the couch. Her hands were empty. Her book was closed. Her eyes were on the phone.
Ci N appeared beside her. "He'll be here."
"I know."
"9:47. Thursday. I calculated it."
She looked at him. "You calculated it for him."
He nodded. "He needed to know. When he would be back. He needed to count the hours. The minutes. The seconds. It helps. Counting. It makes the time smaller."
She looked at his notebook. The pages were full. Numbers. Times. Distances. Names.
"Ci N."
"Yes."
"Thank you."
He tilted his head. "For what?"
She almost smiled. "For counting."
He nodded slowly. Walked back to his bed. Picked up his fox. Sat down.
Rakki put her hand on his arm. "You helped."
"I observed. I counted. I reported."
"You helped."
He looked at Lyra. At the way she was holding the phone. At the way her shoulders had relaxed. At the way she was breathing now. Steady. Even.
"That's acceptable," he said.
---
Part Eight: The Second Morning
The second morning came gray and cold.
Lyra woke before the sun. The room was dark. The city was quiet. Sixteen beds. Fifteen people breathing. One empty.
She lay there for a long time, watching the light change. Gray to blue. Blue to gold. The city waking up outside. The room waking up inside.
She got up. Walked to the kitchen. Made coffee. Black. No sugar.
She made two cups.
She didn't stare at the second cup this time. She picked it up. Held it. The warmth spread through her fingers. She walked to the window. Looked out at the city. The streets. The buildings. The same view. Different light.
She held the cup until it went cold. Then she poured it down the sink.
She washed the cup. Set it on the counter. Walked back to her bed.
Jay was awake. Watching her.
"You made two cups again."
"He drinks coffee in the morning."
"He's in London. It's the middle of the night there."
"I know." Lyra sat on her bed. Picked up her book. "But he drinks coffee in the morning. So I make coffee in the morning."
She opened the book. The same page. The one she'd been on for three days.
Jay didn't say anything. She just watched. And waited.
---
Part Nine: The Afternoon
The afternoon stretched long and empty.
Lyra went to class. Took notes. Ate lunch. Came back. The room was quiet. People were scattered. Yuri was gaming. Mica and Calix were studying. Care and Cole were arguing quietly. Freya was editing. Erdix was beside her. David was snacking. Ash was on her bed. Ci N was reading. Rakki was beside him.
Lyra sat on the couch. Her book was open. Her eyes were on the page. She hadn't turned it in three days.
Ci N walked over. Sat beside her. Not close. Close enough.
"Page 47," he said.
She looked at him. "What?"
"Your book. You've been on page 47 for three days. It's a good page. I read it. But there are 312 pages in that book. You'll never finish if you don't turn."
She looked at the page. She didn't remember what it said. She didn't remember opening the book.
"It's a good page," she said. "I'm staying here for a while."
He nodded. Pulled out his notebook. Showed her.
She looked at the page. Numbers. Times. Distances. 47 hours. 32 minutes. 11 seconds. 10 seconds. 9 seconds.
"47 hours left," he said. "Until Thursday. Until 9:47. Until he walks through that door."
She stared at the numbers. "47 hours."
"47 hours. 2,820 minutes. 169,200 seconds. It's less than before. It's getting smaller."
She looked at him. "You're still counting."
He nodded. "I'll count until he's back. Every hour. Every minute. Every second. When he walks through that door, I'll know exactly how long he was gone."
She almost smiled. Almost. "You're something else, Ci N."
"You like it."
She didn't answer. She looked at the door. Closed. Waiting.
He closed his notebook. Picked up his fox. Held it.
"He'll be here," he said.
"I know."
"9:47. Thursday."
She looked at the door. "9:47. Thursday."
She opened her book. Page 47. She turned it.
Page 48.
Ci N watched her. He didn't say anything. He just sat beside her, counting the seconds, waiting for the door to open.
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End of Chapter Twenty-Four