He held her tighter.
For a long time, they didn't speak.
The nurse quietly stepped into the hallway.
The social worker remained nearby.
And the mother sat beside her son, finally understanding something she'd been too frightened to see.
Her guilt had convinced her that staying away was an act of protection.
But the boy hadn't needed a mother who never made mistakes.
He needed his mother to come back.
The biker was waiting near the elevators when the mother left her son's room that evening.
He stood beside a window overlooking the parking lot.
His black leather vest hung open over his faded shirt.
The white bandage on his forehead made him look even older than he was.
He held the scorched motorcycle key in one hand.
When he saw the mother, he straightened.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
She had known him for years.
She'd trusted him with her son.
Allowed him into her home.
And welcomed him into the garage where the motorcycle had been stored.
Now she couldn't look at his face without seeing the fire.
The old man lowered his eyes.
"I heard you came."
The mother stared.
Then asked, "How long?"
He swallowed.
"What?"
"How long did you know there was something wrong with that motorcycle?"
The biker looked toward the floor.
"I noticed problems with the charging equipment several days before the fire."
The mother's face changed.
"Several days?"
He nodded.
She stepped closer.
"And you left it connected in my garage?"
The old man closed his eyes.
"Yes."
Her voice rose.
"My son was sleeping in that house!"
He didn't move.
"I know."
She began trembling.
"You told me you checked that motorcycle."
The biker looked toward her.
"I did check parts of it."
"Not the part that was causing trouble."
"No."
The mother covered her mouth.
For a moment, she seemed unable to breathe.
Then anger broke through.
"You let me believe I caused it."
The old man swallowed.
"I should've told you what I'd noticed."
"Should've?"
Her voice cracked.
"I spent eleven days hiding from my own son!"
The biker lowered his head.
"I know."
She stared at him.
Then whispered, "No."
He looked up.
"You don't know."
Tears slipped down her cheeks.