Ethan:
He sat beside the bed, his gaze fixed on Yuna's face.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Only the soft sound of machines and her faint breathing filled the space.
Something didn't feel right.
She hadn't moved.
Not even a little.
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"Doctor."
The door opened almost immediately.
The doctor stepped in quickly, checking her pulse, her eyes, her breathing.
Ethan stood there, watching every movement.
"Why isn't she waking up?" his voice was low, controlled—but dangerous.
The doctor didn't panic.
"She is unconscious."
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"She hasn't opened her eyes."
"She's in shock," the doctor explained calmly. "Her body is responding, but her mind is still processing the trauma. It's common in situations like this."
Ethan didn't like that answer.
"How long?"
"It depends," the doctor said. "Minutes… or hours."
Silence.
Ethan looked at Yuna again.
Pale.
Still.
Too still.
"…She'll wake up?" he asked.
"Yes."
A pause.
Then the doctor added softly,
"She just needs to feel safe."
Ethan didn't respond.
But something in his expression shifted.
Slightly.
He gave a small nod.
"That's all."
The doctor understood.
He stepped back.
Ethan walked him out himself.
The moment the door closed—
The room changed again.
---
Dark.
Quiet.
Only the soft yellow glow from the chandelier above spread across the room.
Shadows moved gently along the walls.
Ethan walked back to the bed.
Slowly.
Then sat down beside her again.
Closer this time.
His eyes didn't leave her face.
"She's safe now," he said quietly.
No response.
Of course not.
But he stayed.
Minutes passed.
Or maybe longer.
Time didn't feel normal anymore.
He leaned back slightly, his hand resting near hers again.
Not touching.
Just close enough.
Like before.
Then—
A small movement.
So slight he almost missed it.
Her fingers twitched.
Ethan leaned forward instantly.
"Yuna."
Her lashes fluttered.
Slow.
Heavy.
Then—
Her eyes opened.
Barely.
"…Ethan…"
Her voice was soft.
Weak.
But it was there.
Ethan exhaled slowly, something in his chest finally loosening.
"I'm here."
She didn't move at first.
Her eyes just stayed on him.
Like she was making sure he was real.
Not a dream.
Not something her mind created.
"…You came…" she whispered again.
Ethan didn't answer.
He just looked at her.
She slowly blinked.
Her vision still blurry.
Her head slightly turned toward him.
"I thought…" her voice broke a little, "I thought I wouldn't see you again…"
His jaw tightened.
"You're safe."
She swallowed weakly.
Her body felt heavy.
But after a moment—
She tried to move.
A small shift of her arm.
A slight push.
Ethan noticed immediately.
"Don't."
But she didn't listen.
Slowly—
She lifted herself just a little.
Her body trembling from weakness.
Ethan reached out instinctively, supporting her back before she could fall.
"Careful."
Her hand gripped his sleeve weakly.
"…Don't go."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
But it hit harder than anything else.
Ethan froze for a second.
Then said quietly,
"I'm not going anywhere."
She looked at him.
Really looked this time.
Her eyes filled with something complicated.
Relief.
Pain.
Something else.
"…You lied."
Ethan's expression didn't change.
But his gaze sharpened slightly.
"I saw you," she continued, her voice shaking now. "With her…"
There it was.
The thing she carried even through fear.
Through pain.
Ethan didn't interrupt.
"You said…" her lips trembled, "you said you wouldn't do that again…"
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Yuna's grip on his sleeve tightened weakly.
"I thought I lost you… before I even had you…"
A tear slipped from the corner of her eye.
Ethan watched it fall.
Didn't look away.
Didn't deny it.
Didn't explain.
For once—
He didn't have the right words.
Yuna slowly lowered her gaze.
"…Why did you come…?" she whispered.
A simple question.
But not simple at all.
Ethan leaned slightly closer.
His voice low.
Steady.
"Because you were there."
She shook her head weakly.
"That's not an answer…"
"It is."
She looked at him again.
Confused.
Hurt.
Waiting.
Ethan held her gaze.
"For me."
A pause.
Then he added quietly,
"There was no other option."
Her breath hitched.
Something in her expression softened—
But didn't completely break.
Not yet.
Because she was still hurt.
Still confused.
Still holding onto everything.
Her hand slowly moved from his sleeve—
To his hand.
Weak.
Hesitant.
But she held it.
"…I was scared," she admitted softly.
Ethan didn't pull away.
"I know."
"I thought… if something happened… you wouldn't even know…"
His grip tightened slightly.
"I knew."
She blinked slowly.
Tired.
Exhausted.
"…Don't lie to me again and stop...," she whispered.
Ethan looked at her.
Long.
Deep.
Then—
"I won't."
It wasn't a promise filled with emotion.
But it was real.
Yuna slowly leaned back into the bed again.
Her strength fading.
Her eyes growing heavy.
But her hand—
Didn't let go of his.
And this time—
Ethan didn't leave space between them.
He held her hand fully.
Firm.
Present.
As she slowly drifted back into rest—
Knowing—
He was still there.