The state I'm in COMPLETED

Shadows

After our little getaway, Harry and I were stronger than ever. My parents were slowly warming up to the idea of us. My father had actually survived my mother breaking the news to him—though he still had plenty of doubts. He called me a few times, listing the pros and cons of our relationship, but when he realized how committed I was, he let it slide. For now.

Harry and I spent every free moment together, supporting one another through everything—his legal matters regarding Antony and his divorce, my schoolwork, and my parents' worrying. Even Chris remained sceptical, though he kept his opinions to himself.

"God, he is so cute! He looks so much like you, it's weird. He even has your dimples, Harry," Rose exclaimed when Harry brought baby Antony over to our apartment for the first time.

"Oh, he's adorable... Look! He's smiling at me! Valerie, look!" she squealed excitedly.

"Enjoy it while it lasts, Rose. He actually finds you really funny. That's why he's smiling. To be honest, he's not even smiling at you—he's laughing at you," Harry teased, smirking.

"Aren't you the sweetest little thing, Antony? Too bad your dad is such an ass," Rose shot back, still cooing at the baby, completely ignoring Harry's presence.

"Stop it, you two," I interjected, unbuckling Antony from his carry cot. The second I picked him up, he stretched his tiny hands toward me, grabbing a fistful of my hair and promptly shoving it in his mouth.

Harry chuckled and gently pried my hair from Antony's grip while the baby giggled.

"God, that's the greatest sound I've ever heard," Harry said softly, his eyes full of adoration. "And the two of you together? Perfect."

He took out his phone, capturing a picture of Antony smiling up at me with his fingers in my mouth.

"And now I have a new wallpaper," he declared proudly, showing Rose the screen.

"Perfect," he repeated with a satisfied grin.

I spread Antony's blanket on the sofa with one hand, still holding him in the other, before carefully laying him down.

"Don't get too cozy, you two," Harry warned playfully. "I need to get him to my parents' soon. They haven't seen him in a while. Five minutes and I'm out, babies."

With Harry and Antony back at his home, I had a few hours to myself before work. My assignments were done and submitted, and I even helped Rose with one of hers. She always struggled with Literary Theory and Criticism, and since she bailed me out with Psycholinguistics, I owed her. (Yes, they're just as boring as they sound.)

Feeling productive but restless, I decided to hit the gym—a place I had neglected for far too long. Rose was drowning in coursework, so I packed my bag and headed out alone.

After an hour and a half of cardio, ab workouts, and lifting light weights, I was completely spent. Sweat drenched my skin as I drained the last drops of water from my bottle and slung my towel around my neck.

As I made my way to the showers, the steaming water relaxed my sore muscles, washing away the exhaustion. Dressed in leggings, Uggs, and a hoodie, I threw my bag over my shoulder, fumbling for my keys as I approached my car in the university parking lot.

I pressed the button to unlock the trunk and tossed my bag inside.

Then I went around to open the door.

That's the last thing I remember.

LEO'S POV

The beeping of the monitors was the only thing breaking the unbearable silence in the hospital room.