July 6th, 1985
Your eyes slowly peeled open, lids feeling like they weighed a million pounds as they tried to close back shut. Relief washed over you when you saw the white walls and fresh morning sunlight barley peeking through the closed curtains.
Light.
You thought, unable to muster up the strength to form the word yourself. You sluggishly blinked, almost letting your eyes remain closed until you heard a small snore from beside you.
Letting your head crane to the side, you made out what you immediately recognized as Billy's back while he slept in a separate bed a few feet away. "Bi-..." You croaked, word coming out in a whisper as you tried to shift yourself.
Your throat was in too much pain to speak any louder, and you could barley move your body as your leg was practically immobile and arms had IVs going in and out all over the place. "Bi-...lly-" You coughed, seeing him slightly move but not budge.
Tears started to form in your eyes, but much to your surprise, Meow came from the floor and jumped up on his bed. She proceeded to walk across his body, stepping on his face and forcing him awake. "Mgh...what?" He grumbled, fluttering his eyes open to see her sit by his face and start to meow.
"What?" He said again, slightly irritated that she woke him up until he listened to your cough. "Billy-..." You sputtered, watching him immediately roll over and practically fall out of the bed. You wanted to laugh at the sight, but seeing him up close easily overtook your emotions.
"(Y/n)...I'm here...I'm here." He said, cupping your face in his hands. He had a small scar forming on his cheek, but every other wound on his body seemed to be healed. Tears freely flowed down your cheeks, hands desperate to hold him but your arms wouldn't comply.
"Hand...please...-" You whimpered out, feeling one of his own immediately go down and move your to rest on his cheek. "That better princess?" He said, feeling your thumb wipe away a tear that rolled down his skin. You mustered up a small smile and a weak nod, flicking your eyes down to his lips.
Billy let the corner of his mouth tug up, his body leaning down as he pressed a soft kiss to your lips. His hands gently held your face, eyes closing as the loving action seemed to last for minutes.
Despite how badly you wanted more, Billy pulled away when he felt your body tense with a need for air. As he pulled back, he rested his forehead gently on yours and closed his eyes.
"I missed you....I looked for you every damn day princess."
Your hand flattened on his shoulder, pulling him closer to hold him in a soft hug. Tears flowed from both of you as you let out quiet whimpers onto his skin. "-love...y-..you." You croaked, voice hoarse as you swallowed deeply. "I love you too. I love you so damn much....I'm so sorry I could protect you. I couldn't-"
Listening to the boy choke on his words, sucking back a wave of tears before looking at your tired eyes and bursting at the seams. He collapsed on his knees by your bedside, holding onto one of your hands as the other ran through his hair. Wails left his throat, his face burrying in the sheets as all of his anguish over the past two months came to light.
Billy muttered incoherent strings over words to you, desperately apologizing for everything he had ever done. There was so much you wanted to say in reassurance, but you could barely talk much less give a speech. You started to cry as well, but not from sadness...but from relief.
The boy looked up to you, watching the tears slip from your eyes as you stared at the ceiling. Pushing his own pain aside, he sniffed back his tears and let his fingers gently wipe off your cheeks. "You're okay princess. I promise everything is okay."
