When Nico received the call from the hospital,
His heart stopped.
His stomach dropped.
He could hardly track what the nurse was telling him.
He ran out the door and made it to the hospital in record time,
With his mind racing.
He stood in the doorway of Nathan's hospital room,
Hands useless at his sides,
Heart pounding.
It felt like anyone who'd walk by would easily be able to hear it.
He called Lauren and shared the news in this monotone voice.
It felt like he was somewhere outside of his body.
She arrived out of breath,
Hair pulled back,
A jacket thrown over yoga pants,
Eyes teary.
They lingered by Nathan's hospital bed,
Machines breathing for him in a steady rhythm.
Their eyes met for the briefest moment,
And in the silence,
Their shared guilt spoke louder than words ever could.
It took hours,
But once Nathan finally woke up,
He looked from one to the other.
You too,
He rasped,
Half grin,
Half grimace.
We're here,
Lauren said.
No arguments,
No apologies.
We love you.
These three words that landed like morphine.
The doctor explained fractures,
Concussion protocol,
The miracle of helmets.
Nathan nodded,
Trying to ignore Nico and Lauren both looking at him.
After the doctor and nurses left,
Nico said,
I'm not going anywhere.
Whatever you need throughout your recovery,
You can count on me.
Nathan shifted against the pillows,
Wincing,
As if every movement cost him.
His voice came rough,
Almost shredded.
If you're gonna stay,
Then just stay quiet.
So Nico did.
He stayed,
Rooted at the edge of the bed like he had been as a boy,
Standing guard outside their mother's locked bedroom door.
No words,
Just presence.
Lauren pulled the chair closer and rested her hand over Nathan's,
Light enough that he could have pulled it away.
He didn't.
He didn't squeeze back either.
But the faint tremor in his fingers told her he felt it.
For a long time,
Nothing happened.
The machines hummed,
The monitors blinked,
And the three of them just sat there in fragile silence.
And yet something shifted,
So subtle,
It might have gone unnoticed if not for the ache in each of their chests.
Sometimes the first flicker of understanding arrives quietly.
Silence that holds instead of shatters.
A hand that isn't pulled away.
The simple presence of someone who stays when leaving would be easier.
After a while,
Nathan fell asleep.
Nico and Lauren could finally hold each other's gaze,
Briefly at first.
With nowhere else to look in that small hospital room,
Their eyes caught again,
As if to say,
He's okay.
He's gonna be okay.
They both had this huge exhale at the same time,
And in that moment they shared a quiet laughter mixed with some relief that the three of them are here together.
Nico insisted that Lauren head back to her place,
Get something to eat,
Along with a good night's sleep.
She hesitated at first,
But had to admit she was incredibly hungry and definitely exhausted.
Driving out of the parking lot,
Lauren felt grateful that Nico said he'd stay with Nathan,
And they could meet again here tomorrow.
