Leona stumbled into the apartment hours later, her mind still buzzing with thoughts she couldn't quite shake. The night had been a blur, a whirlwind of emotions that she hadn't fully processed. The music, the dance-none of it had made a difference. She still couldn't escape the truth of her situation.
Marcus was sitting on the couch when she stepped inside, his eyes wide with relief mixed with an undercurrent of anger. As soon as he saw her, he stood up, rushing over to her with a look that could have burned holes through the walls.
"Where the hell have you been, Leona?!" His voice cracked with a frustration that only someone who cared deeply could muster. "I've been out of my mind looking for you. I checked the hospitals, the police stations-everywhere! I thought something had happened to you."
Leona flinched at the words, feeling the weight of his worry settle heavily in her chest. She hadn't meant to make him worry, but she'd needed the time alone to process everything. To think.
"I'm sorry, Marcus," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I needed to be by myself for a little while. Please understand that."
He stared at her, disbelief clear in his eyes. "Understand? Leona, I've known you for how many years? You don't just disappear like that and leave me to wonder if something terrible's happened."
Leona sighed, biting back the frustration rising in her chest. She knew he didn't understand, but she didn't know how else to explain it. "I'm fine, Marcus. I just needed to think. I needed to process what's happening."
For a long moment, he didn't speak. Instead, he reached out, pulling her into a tight hug. Her body stiffened at first, but as he squeezed her, something broke inside her. The emotions she'd been trying to suppress all day came crashing down, and before she knew it, she was holding him back just as tightly.
"You scared the hell out of me," he whispered into her hair, his voice trembling. "I thought I'd lost you."
Leona's heart skipped a beat. She knew that Marcus cared for her-he always had. He'd been her closest friend, her rock. But hearing him like this, so vulnerable, made something stir deep inside her. It was more than just friendship.
She pulled back slightly to look at him, her hand brushing against his cheek. "I'm sorry. I'll never do that again. I just... I don't want you to watch me fall apart."
Marcus didn't answer right away. Instead, his eyes softened, and for the first time that night, Leona saw the depth of his feelings for her. His gaze lingered on her lips before he shook his head.
"I don't know what I'd do if I lost you," he admitted quietly, his voice full of emotion. "You're the most important person in my life, Leona."
The words hung in the air, heavier than the silence between them. Leona opened her mouth to say something-anything-but nothing came. She wasn't ready to confront what those words meant. Not yet.
But as Marcus gently cupped her face in his hands, she realized just how much she'd been relying on him. How much he meant to her.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered again, the weight of her emotions overwhelming her.
He didn't say anything. Instead, he hugged her even tighter, as though he was afraid she might slip away again.
*******
Meanwhile, Across Town...
Tristan had barely noticed the time pass. It had been a long day at the hospital, full of tests, rounds, and consultations. He was exhausted, his mind spinning with the cases he'd been handling. Yet, there was something about tonight that kept him on edge. Something nagging at the back of his mind.
He had been curious about the woman-the one he'd seen dancing at the bar earlier that night. The one with the wild, carefree energy that had caught his attention the moment she moved. He'd thought about her all evening, wondering why she stood out so much. Was it just the way she danced, or was it something deeper?
As he made his way home, he kept replaying the encounter in his mind. He had left the bar earlier without noticing when she'd disappeared. But now, as he sat in his car, he found himself wondering if he would ever see her again.
"Jared," he muttered to himself, pulling out his phone. He needed to talk to someone.
It didn't take long before Jared picked up, his voice already lighthearted. "What's up, mate? How's the night treating you?"
"I've been thinking about that girl," Tristan said, cutting to the chase. "The one who was dancing at the bar. Do you know her?"
Jared paused for a moment, clearly confused. "The one dancing on the jukebox? Nah, I don't know her. She's not from around here, that's for sure. I've never seen her before."
Tristan frowned, still intrigued. "Really? She seemed... familiar somehow. I don't know. There was something about her."
Jared chuckled. "Man, you're overthinking this. She probably just caught your eye because she was having fun. Don't go looking for meaning where there isn't any."
Tristan wasn't convinced. There was something about her, something he couldn't quite shake. "Yeah, maybe you're right. I'll just forget about it."
Jared, sensing that his friend was still caught up in it, laughed. "Come on, mate. You need a drink and some sleep. You've been working too hard."
Tristan smiled faintly, realizing Jared had a point. He'd spent far too much time focused on the hospital and research lately. Maybe he needed a break.
After a few more minutes of lighthearted banter, Tristan hung up, his thoughts still lingering on the woman. He didn't know why he cared so much.
But the night was late, and there was nothing more to do for now. So, he headed inside, closing the door behind him, and tried to push the thoughts of the dancer-and the hospital-away, if only for a few hours.