Brought By Destiny

Chapter 15

The Weight of Quiet Moments

Michael’s POV:

"Mr. Knight... Mr. Knight..."

The soft, persistent voice pulled me from a heavy, dreamless sleep. I felt a gentle hand shaking my arm, and I slowly pried my eyes open to see the nurse smiling down at me. I was stiff from sleeping in such an awkward position on the hospital chair. I sat up, rubbing my face with my palms to clear the cobwebs of exhaustion.

"Sir, you’ll need to wait outside for a while," she said with a professional, kindly smile. "I need to give Ms. Lilly took a sponge bath and changed her bandages."

"Yeah, sure! Of course," I replied, standing up and stretching my aching back.

I looked over at Lilly, who was watching me from the bed. She gave me a small, weary smile, and I felt a surge of warmth in my chest as I returned it before stepping out into the hallway.

I walked over to the wooden bench in the corridor, the sterile scent of antiseptic filling my lungs. No sooner had I sat down than my phone began to vibrate. It was Mum, again. I sighed and picked up.
She was frantic, her voice high-pitched with worry since I hadn’t been home since the previous morning. I did my best to reassure her, speaking in low tones so as not to disturb the other patients.

"I’m okay, Mum. I promise," I said, trying to sound more energized than
I felt. "My friend is doing much better. I’ll be home by this evening. Just... don't worry, okay? I’ll explain everything when I see you."

She reluctantly agreed to let me go, though not before a few more motherly warnings. Shortly after I hung up, the nurse emerged from Lilly’s room and nodded to me.

I went back inside, and the moment our eyes met, the world seemed to quiet down. I walked over to the stool beside her bed and sat down, gently taking her hand in mine. Her skin was pale, but she looked more peaceful than she had in days.

"How are you feeling now?" I asked softly.

"Great!" she replied, though her voice was still a bit thin.

She gave me another one of those small, beautiful smiles that seemed to make the room brighter.

"The doctor said we can leave by this afternoon," I said, unable to hide my own grin. "Everything is looking good."

She nodded in response, her green eyes searching for mine. I was about to say something more, perhaps something about how relieved I was, or how I didn't want to let her out of my sight again when the door banged open.

"Good morning!!" Jeni’s voice boomed as she marched into the room, a vibrant bouquet of flowers in one hand and a heavy fruit basket in the other.

"Good morning, Jeni!" Lilly and I replied in unison, startled but amused by her energy.

Jeni rushed to the bed and enveloped Lilly in a careful hug.

I stood up to give her my seat, moving toward the window.
A moment later, Jack and Andrew entered. I greeted them both with a smile; Jack returned it warmly, but Andrew’s expression remained stony and guarded.

I stood there silently, content to fade into the background as they surrounded Lilly. Watching her interact with them, I realized how beautiful she looked when she smiled.

It wasn't just her features; it was the way her whole face transformed. I found myself wanting to protect that smile at all costs. I wanted to see her pink lips curl up and those green eyes shine like that every single day.

Michael, why do you care so much about her? My inner voice whispered.

I didn't have a solid answer. All I knew was that I liked her, more than I probably should. There was a resilience in her, a quiet strength that acted like a magnet, and I found myself unable to resist the pull.

"I think you can leave now," Andrew said suddenly, his voice sharp and serious as he looked directly at me. "We’re here to take care of our friend. We’ve got it from here."

I snapped out of my thoughts, looking at him blankly. The room went silent.

"Andy, shut up!" Jeni hissed, spinning around to face him. "He doesn't need to go anywhere. He’s been here all night."

"Why must he be here when we are here?" Andrew argued, his eyes narrowing. "He’s done his part. I think it’s time he left."

Jeni’s face flushed with anger. "Andrew, we need to talk. Now!"
She grabbed him by the arm and practically hauled him out of the room. Before the door closed, she threw me an apologetic look. Jack, meanwhile, took a seat and pulled out his phone.

"Lilly, Jazz and Ryan are on the line," he said, initiating a video call.

The transformation in Lilly was instantaneous. Her face lit up with pure joy as Ryan’s chubby face appeared on the screen. Listening to her talk to him, her voice cooing with motherly love, made my heart ache. She looked truly happy for the first time since I met her.

Once she finished the call, Jack took the phone back and walked to the far corner of the room to speak privately with his wife.

I moved back toward the bed. "Please don't mind Andy," I said softly. "He’s a good guy, he’s just... a little straightforward at times."

Lilly gave me an assuring smile, though I could tell Andrew’s hostility bothered her. We sat in a comfortable silence for a while before Jeni and Andrew returned.

Andrew still looked at me with cold, suspicious eyes, but he remained silent for the rest of the stay.
The discharge process took a few hours.

The doctors performed one final check, declaring her fit to leave but emphasizing the need for absolute bed rest for at least a week. Her leg fracture was stable, but her body was still recovering from the trauma.

I handled the final paperwork and paid the remaining fees. When it was time to leave, I helped Lilly into the front seat of my car while Jack followed behind us in his own vehicle. Jeni and Andrew waved us off before heading to their own home.

The drive back was quiet. Neither of us spoke, but it wasn't the awkward silence from before. It was heavy with unspoken thoughts and the lingering adrenaline of the past forty-eight hours.

I kept glancing at her, making sure she was comfortable, watching as she stared out the window at the passing city. She looked like a survivor.

Finally, we reached the house.
As I pulled into the driveway, I felt a strange sense of homecoming. I turned off the engine and looked at her.

"We're home," I said softly.

She looked at the house and then at me, her eyes brimming with a mix of exhaustion and gratitude. I got out and walked around to the passenger side, opening the door for her.

I reached in and carefully lifted her into my arms, mindful of her injuries. She wrapped her arms around my neck, her head resting naturally against my shoulder.

As I walked toward the front door, the weight of the moment hit me.
A week ago, she was a stranger running for her life. Now, she was the center of my world. I kicked the door shut behind us, the familiar scent of my home wrapping around us like a blanket.

"I’ll take you straight to the room," I whispered.

"Thank you, Michael," she murmured, her voice muffled against my shirt. "For everything."

I didn't answer with words. I just held her a little tighter as I climbed the stairs, knowing that while the danger from Anthony was over, a whole new chapter was just beginning for both of us.

The house was quiet, giving us a rare moment of peace.

I laid her down on the bed, propping her leg up with pillows just as the doctor had instructed. I stood back, watching her for a moment.

"I'm going to get you some water and something light to eat," I said.
"Just stay put."

"I'm not going anywhere," she joked weakly.

I laughed and headed downstairs, but as I reached the kitchen, I stopped and leaned against the counter. My hands were shaking. The realization of how close I had come to losing her, to seeing that light in her eyes extinguished forever hit me like a tidal wave.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. I had a week of nursing her back to health ahead of me, and I intended to make every second count.