NICK'S POV
Then suddenly, through the fog of pain, I heard it—"Are you okay?" The voice seemed distant at first, but I knew it. It was Justine. She was back. She heard me.
My eyelids felt impossibly heavy, but I tried to open them, desperate to see her, to know it wasn't just a dream. It took all the strength I had left, but finally, I managed to crack them open, and there she was—sitting right by my side, her eyes full of genuine worry.
She wasn't here because I'd forced her. She was here because she wanted to be. And the concern on her face—it was real, not out of obligation or because of any command I'd given her. That look of care, of softness, was everything. In that moment, I didn't care about my pain. All I cared about was that she was here, with me.
When she asked if I needed anything, if she should call someone, all I wanted to say was, I don't need anyone else as long as you're here. I wanted to tell her that she was enough, that just her presence made me feel better. But before I could say anything, she was gone.
Where did she go? Why did she leave?
She didn't say a word before disappearing, and I didn't have the strength to look around, to find out where she had gone. I just lay there, helpless, as my temperature started to rise again. My mind raced with questions, my body heavy with weakness, but all I could think about was her absence.
Did she really leave me? The thought gnawed at me, adding to the burning in my chest.
The same way she left was the same way she returned—quietly, almost like a whisper. I didn't even have to open my eyes to know she was there. I just felt her presence, and then, after a few moments, the cool relief of a damp towel on my forehead.
She didn't leave me.
A wave of relief washed over me. Here she was, taking care of me, cooling my fever with such tenderness. It was so sweet of her, more than I deserved. As she gently pressed the cold towel on my skin, I felt my body ease, the heat slowly fading under her touch. When she placed it on my head and then on my chest, it was like a cool breeze had swept over me, soothing the ache in my body.
How is it that she has this effect on me? My thoughts lingered on her, my chest tightening with emotions I didn't want to acknowledge.
As I felt the coolness settle into my body, the fever easing, and the pain finally beginning to fade, I closed my eyes, letting out a quiet sigh. I could hear my heartbeat steady, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I was actually comfortable. Justine had worked wonders, even if she didn't know it.
Then I felt her stir. Was she leaving again? The thought sent a jolt through me. I didn't want her to go—not yet. I tried to tell myself it was no big deal, that I didn't care if she stayed or left, but the truth? The truth was, I needed her here, though I hated the idea of coming across as needy.
What do I do?
I could let her leave, let her walk away and pretend this didn't matter. But every part of me screamed to keep her close. I had to decide, fast. Speak up or let her go?
I slowly opened my eyes and reached out, gently holding her soft, smooth hand. The contact sent a surge of warmth through me, but I swallowed hard, forcing down the knot of pride lodged in my throat. I had caught her attention—she paused, looking down at me, her expression unreadable.
I hesitated, but the words spilled out before I could stop them. "Stay, please." My voice came out softer than I wanted, barely a whisper.
I held my breath, unsure if she would pull away, if she'd walk out the door and leave me alone. My heart pounded in the silence as I waited for her response.
Would she leave? Or would she stay?
It felt like an eternity waiting for her response. Time seemed to stop, the tension growing with each passing second. My heart raced as I watched her face, searching for any sign of what she might do. Then, finally, she looked at me, her expression softening, and she sat back on the bed.
The moment she did, my heart bounced with joy. If I hadn't been sick, I would've done a victory dance. She was staying. She had chosen to stay.
She looked into my eyes, a soft smile forming on her lips, and for the first time, I noticed the relief in her expression. I must have really worried her earlier. Now, though, there was a calm between us, a peace that settled in the room as if everything, even for just a moment, was alright.
I decided to test my luck one more time. I crossed my fingers, hoping this wouldn't blow up in my face. This was a big step, and I knew it. Part of me was terrified I'd mess everything up, but another part of me couldn't resist pushing a little further. I took a deep breath, gathered every ounce of courage, and said to her, "you can lie down with me. I won't bite."
The words hung in the air between us, heavy and charged. To be honest, a part of me was bracing for her to get up and walk out, leaving me to regret my choice. But deep down, I held on to the hope that she wouldn't. After all, the way she had cared for me just now—it wasn't something I could ignore. I knew she cared, at least in this moment. And after what had happened the last time she almost left, I was counting on the fact that she wouldn't want to risk me getting worse again.
Now, all I could do was wait.
She hesitated, and I could feel cold sweat trickling down my neck as I waited for her response. My heart raced with anticipation, each second stretching out longer than the last. To reassure her, I shifted a little, making more space on the bed, silently conveying that all I wanted was for her to be by my side.
As if the universe had heard my prayer, she finally lay down next to me. To say I was excited would be an understatement—I was over the moon. The warmth of her body next to mine felt like a balm, easing the remnants of pain that had haunted me just moments before.
I turned my head to look at her, taking in the way her hair fell softly across her face and the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. In this moment, with her close to me, I felt a sense of calm wash over me that I hadn't experienced in a long time. The tension between us was still there, but it was different now—less about uncertainty and more about something unspoken that tied us together.
I slowly moved my hand, gently brushing a few strands of hair away from her face. Her skin felt incredibly soft under my touch, and for a moment, all I wanted was to caress her more, to linger in this closeness. But I had to call on every ounce of self-control to pull away. I couldn't ruin this moment, not now, not when things were finally peaceful between us.
My eyes drifted to her lips—they were tempting, almost like they were silently calling to me. But I wasn't going to let desire mess this up. I had to be patient, careful. Instead, I pulled myself together and reached for her hand, holding it firmly but gently. Part of me just wanted to feel her warmth, the comfort of knowing she was right there. But the other part—well, the other part was making sure she didn't sneak away, leaving me alone as I fell into a peaceful sleep.
With her hand in mine, I closed my eyes, feeling her presence beside me. Everything in that moment felt right, like I could finally rest, knowing she was here, by my side.