"I know," Lucas replies. "But this ti... it’s different."
My chest tightens painfully as I walk back toward the bed slowly, sitting down without even realizing it.
"Is he conscious?" I ask.
"On and off," Lucas answers. "They’ve got him on a bunch of things. Monitoring him closely."
I press my lips together, trying to keep it together.
"I should co," I say quickly. "I should be there."
There’s a pause thhen....
"Yeah," Lucas says. "You probably should."
My throat feels tight.
"I’ll get ready and....."
"Elaine," he cuts in.
I stop.
"What?"
"You sure you want to co alone?" he asks. "Or do you want to send soone?"
I hesitat for a second because my mind flickers...
"...I’ll figure it out," I say finally.
"Alright," Lucas replies. "Just don’t take too long."
"I won’t."
There’s another pause.
"I’ll keep you updated on the lab stuff too," he adds.
"Okay."
"And Elaine..."
"Yeah?"
"Hang in there."
My chest tightens again.
"I will," I say quietly.
The line goes silent after that and I pull the phone away slowly, staring at the screen for a second before it goes dar and just like everything feels different because now it’s not just about Or Zane.
Now.... Its Grandpa and the thought that I might lose him....it hits harder than anything else so far.
I don’t waste ti the mont the call ends, I move.
Everything feels rushed, tight, like there’s sothing sitting heavy in my chest that won’t let slow down. I grab the first decent outfit I can find, sothing simple but presentable, my hands moving faster than my thoughts as I rush through my routine, bath brush and dress I don’t even rember half of it when I’m done, my mind is sowhere else entirely.
Grandpa.
I grab my phone and head out of my room, my steps quicker than usual as I make my way downstairs.
When I step into the dining area...He’s already there.
Zane.
He’s Sitting at the table like he always does, calm, composed, a cup of coffee in his hand like this is just another morning.
For a second, I pause.
Because everything from last night flashes through my head without warning. The wall, his hand on , and that kiss.
My lips press together briefly before I push it aside.
Now is not the ti, his eyes lift the mont I step in, they land on and stay. Not long, not like last night but long enough.
"Where are you going?" he asks.
Straight to it I see. No greeting.
I walk toward the table, trying to keep my pace steady.
"My grandpa is in the hospital," I say. "Lucas called. It’s serious.
Sothing shifts in his expression.
"Sit," he says, gesturing to the chair across from him.
I blink.
"What?"
"Sit and eat first," he repeats, like it’s obvious. "I’ll take you."
I hesitate, part of wants to refuse, part of wants to just grab my bag and leav but the other part....The part that knows I might not even be thinking straight right now....Wins.
"...fine," I mutter.
I pull out the chair and sit..Margaret appears almost imdiately, like she’s been waiting for .
"Oh my dear," she says softly, her eyes scanning my face like she already knows sothing’s wrong. "You look pale."
"I’m fine," I say quickly.
She doesn’t look convinced but she doesn’t press. Instead, she sets a plate in front of .
"Eat," she says gently. "You’ll need your strength."
I nod faintly, the food slls good so I pick up my fork and take a bite. Then another and another. I’m not even tasting it. I’m just... eating, hoving it down like it’s sothing I need to get out of the way. Because my mind isn’t here, itt’s sowhere else entirely.
With him...Grandpa and the mories co without warning
He wasn’t always like this, not the strict, cold man everyone sees now. When we were kids....He was different So different.
I rember sneaking into his study, small feet against the floor, trying not to make nois and he’d always pretend not to notice until I got close enough.
Then he’d suddenly look up, pretend to be surprised, and say, "Ah, caught you."
And I’d laugh, every ti.
He used to keep sweets hidden in his drawer, not for himself, fr .
"For ergencies," he used to say.
But we both knew what that ant. I’d sit on his lap, legs swinging, while he handed one piece after another, telling not to let my parents find out and He’d wink like it was our little secret and I’d nod like it was the most serious thing in the world.
I smile faintly at the mory then it fades just as quickly beecause things changed, eveverything changed after my parents died...He changed, I guess he had to.
Five kids suddenly depending on him with responsibilities piling up and the grief he never really talked about.
The softness disappeared slowly, teplaced with rules and expectations.
He beca... harder, Stricter, less patient and sowhere along the way....We stopped being that close. I stopped sneaking into his study, he stopped keeping sweets and everything between us beca... formal.
But even thenEven now...i still love him and i still miss that version of him. The one who smiled easily, the one who laughed with and the one who felt... safe.
My throat tightens as I swallow hard, forcing another bite down even though it suddenly feels like too much. I don’t want anything to happen to him, not like this, not without fixing things Not without at least.....Trying.
I don’t even realize how fast I’m eating until....
"Elaine."
Zane’s voice cuts through my thoughts.
I look up to find He’s watching , his brows slightly drawn together.
"What?" I ask, a little too quickly.
He exhales slowly, setting his cup down.
"You’re not even tasting that," he says.
I glance down at my plate, half of it is already gone. I didn’t even notice.
"I’m fine," I repeat.
He doesn’t respond imdiately just looks at and sothing about it....it makes my chest tighten again. Beecause for a second, he doesn’t look annoyed, he looks... concerned.
Then he sighs pushes his chair back and stands.
"Get up," he says.
I blink.
"What?"
"Your mind isn’t here," he adds. "You’re not going to eat properly anyway."
I hesitate for a second then slow ly push my chair back and stand.
Margaret looks between us, concern written all over her face.
"Is everything alright?" she asks softly.
"He’ll be fine," Zane says calmly. "We’re going to the hospital."
I nod quickly.
"Yes... thank you, Margaret."
She gives a small, worried smile.
"Go on," she says. "And call when you get there."
"I will."
Zane is already moving toward the door when I turn back to him and I follow.
My chest still tight and my thoughts still spinning but at least now.....I’m not facing it alone.
The drive feels longer than it should with no music and no conversation. Just the quiet hum of the engine and the weight sitting heavy in my chest.
I sit beside him, staring out the window, but I’m not really seeing anything. Everything outside blurs past...cars, buildings, people....but none of it sticks.
My mind keeps circling back to Grandpa.
I press my lips together, my fingers curling slightly in my lap.
Zane doesn’t say anything throughout the whole drive but I can feel him there. And sohow that makes it easier to breathe.
——
When we finally pull into the hospital, I don’t wait. The mont the car stops, I’m out and into the hospital the sll hitting the second I step inside. That sharp, sterile scent that always feels too clean.
I hate it.
My steps quicken as I move toward the front desk, my eyes scanning everything like I expect to find answers just by looking hard enough.
"Excuse ...." I say quickly to the nurse. "My grandfather....he was brought in last night...."
I give his na.
She checks, types into her system
"Third floor," she says. "Private ward."
"Thank you."
I don’t wait for anything else as I turn and head straight for the elevators, my pulse picking up with every passing second.
Zane stays close behind . Not hovering or crowding .
The elevator ride feels suffocating. My foot taps against the floor, my arms folded tightly across my chest like I’m holding myself together.
The mont the doors open....i step out imdiately.
The hallway is quieter up here. I scan the doors, reading nas, numbers....Until I find it.
His room.
My chest tightens instantly, as I sight the are guards outside. Two of them, standing like unmovable walls.
I don’t think about it, i just walk straight up.
"I wan to see him," I say.
One of them steps forward imdiately.
"Ma’am, you can’t go in."
I blink.
"What?"
"No visitors allowed at the mont," he says, firm.
My chest tightens.
"I’m not ’visitors’," I snap. "That’s my grandfather."
"I understand, but...."
"No," I cut him off, stepping closer. "You don’t understand. Move."
He doesn’t he just stands there Unmoving, like I didn’t say anything at all.
My frustration spikes instantly.
"Are you serious right now?" I ask, my voice rising. "He’s in there and you’re telling I can’t see him?"
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