Ben rushes out the door into the hallway
I am on his heels
“She what?”
Ben crouches to the ground
one hand pressed to his mouth
he’s so still, like he’s holding his breath
I rest a hand on his shoulder and wait
“I’ll be there”
he stands to his feet
“Taylor. I’m coming. Okay? Okay?”
Ben closes the cell phone
and turns to me
unable to speak
his lips working around his mouth
and his eyes glassy
“My mom. She collapsed.”
I do the only thing I can think to do
and wrap my arms around him
I can feel his body sobbing silently

when he pulls back
he wipes the back of his hand
across his face.
“I have to go.”
“Of course you do.”
He stares at me
like he’s searching for something there
“I’m so sorry to leave you like this,” he says
I shake my head
“Don’t be. You have to go.”
He squeezes my hand
kisses my cheek
and whispers,
“Thank you.”
and with that
turns
and runs
down the hallway

disappearing