**Chapter 16: Parents' Visit**

The hospital room was dimly lit, with only a few flickering fluorescent lights overhead. I sat beside Johnny's bed, holding his hand in mine, trying to focus on the beeping of the machines and his gentle breathing. The smell of antiseptic and stale air filled my nostrils, and I could taste the bitterness of the hospital's coffee on my tongue. As I gazed at Johnny's bruised and battered face, I felt a pang of guilt for getting him hurt. But he just smiled weakly at me, and I knew he was okay. I squeezed his hand gently, trying to reassure him. The door to the hospital room creaked open, and Dally walked in, his eyes scanning the room. "Hey, Vik. How's Johnny doing?" he asked, his voice low and rough. I nodded, trying to keep my voice down. "He's okay, I guess. Just a little sore." Dally nodded, his eyes flicking to Johnny's face. "Good. I'm glad he's okay. We can't afford to lose him." Just then, the nurse walked in, her eyes scanning the room. "I think it's time for a visitor," she said, smiling. "Your parents are here, Viktoria." My heart sank, and I felt a knot form in my stomach. I hadn't seen my parents in months, and I wasn't exactly thrilled about it. I glanced at Johnny, who was still sleeping, and then at Dally, who raised an eyebrow. "Do I have to?" I asked the nurse, trying to stall. The nurse nodded sympathetically. "I'm afraid so, dear. They're waiting in the waiting room." I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the encounter. I got up from my chair, smoothing out my mini denim skirt and running a hand through my straight brown hair. I had worn minimal makeup, just black eyeliner in my waterline lashes and mascara, but I felt like it was enough to make me look more confident. As I walked out of the hospital room with Dally, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. What did my parents want? And why had they come now? The waiting room was filled with the usual hospital sounds - beeping machines, murmured conversations, and the occasional cry of a baby. My parents sat in a corner, looking like they didn't quite belong. They were always so self-absorbed, so caught up in their own problems. My mom, a petite blonde with a fake smile, stood up as I approached. "Vik, sweetie, it's so great to see you!" she exclaimed, opening her arms for a hug. I hesitated, unsure of what to do. I hadn't seen them in so long, and I didn't know if I was ready for a hug. But I played along, hugging her awkwardly. My dad, a tall, thin man with a receding hairline, nodded at me, his eyes flicking to Dally. "Vik, we were worried about you," he said, his voice dripping with insincerity. I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "You were worried about me? After all this time?" My mom smiled again, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "We were just busy, Vik. You know how it is." I snorted, rolling my eyes. "Busy? You were too busy to even call me, to even check in. What's the point of even having parents if they're not going to care?" My dad's face darkened, and he took a step forward. "Vik, don't be like that. We're trying to make amends." I laughed, a bitter sound. "Amends? You think you can just waltz in here and make everything okay? It's too late for that." Dally cleared his throat, interrupting the conversation. "I think that's enough, Viktoria. Let's just focus on getting Johnny better, okay?" I nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude towards Dally. He knew exactly when to step in. As we walked back to Johnny's room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. My parents might have shown up, but they hadn't exactly made a good impression. And I knew that I was better off without them. Johnny was still sleeping, his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling with each breath. I sat back down beside him, holding his hand in mine. "Hey, Vik," he whispered, his voice hoarse. I smiled, squeezing his hand. "Hey, Johnny. I'm here." He smiled back, his eyes locking onto mine. And in that moment, I knew that I was exactly where I was meant to be.