Forced Than Loved ★ Pablo Gavi

₂.₆

★☆★☆★

Shattered Conversation

★☆★☆★

Cassie's P O V

The countdown to freedom had begun. In just a few hours, I would finally be able to leave this hospital and return to the comfort of my own bed, wrapped in the familiar warmth of my parents' house. The thought of leaving this sterile, white-walled room should have excited me, yet a lingering unease settled in my chest. I wasn't ready to drive myself home. The idea of being behind the wheel again, of facing the outside world so soon after everything that had happened, filled me with a quiet dread. I needed time, to adjust, to process, to breathe so that's why my parents booked a hotel room here in Barcelona, ready to take me home back in Valencia. I may not have been there in a while but I find comfort in my room and that city, since that's where I grew up, besides I promised I would meet a childhood friend who stayed back in the city when I went to Barcelona to pursue my career in acting and modeling.

Anyway, that's beside the point right now, Pablo and Pedri were on their way. At least, that's what Pedri had texted me not too long ago. The anticipation sat heavily on my shoulders. I had been avoiding this conversation for days, pushing it aside in favor of silence and distance, needing my head to be cleared before actually speaking to him. But today, there was no more 'running'. I had to face reality and talk to him, I actually did need to talk to him before... you know what I'll explain later, that's the least of anyone's concerns right now. 

I pushed my hospital tray aside, the remains of my barely touched lunch still sitting there. No matter how many times I ate hospital food, it never got better. Every bite tasted bland, lifeless, as if the very walls of this place sucked the flavor out of everything. I hated every forkful I forced myself to swallow. The only thing keeping me from losing my mind entirely was the occasional visit from the nurse, Ellie I had grown fond of. She had been a true comfort during my stay, checking in on me even when she didn't have to, making sure I was comfortable, and never alone for too long. When she came in earlier, she had smiled warmly and informed me that I was free to leave whenever I was ready, reminding me to call if I needed any assistance. I'll be sure to ask for her next time, well actually never mind let's not hope there is a next time, but god forbid there was I want her to take care of me. 

My mother had stayed overnight with me. I didn't want to be alone, and she understood that. In the dim glow of the hospital room, I had told her everything, every painful detail of yesterday's events, from Lucia's unexpected confession to the weight of seeing Pablo again. She listened, holding my hand the entire time, her warmth grounding me. She encouraged me to talk to him, to give him the chance to explain himself. My father, on the other hand, was still furious. He had always been overprotective, and after everything that had happened, he wasn't ready to let Pablo off the hook so easily. I couldn't blame him for that, I guess that's where I got the desire to continue pushing him. My mother left early in the morning, kissing my forehead before she slipped out the door, promising to come later, letting me have some space for when Pablo came. As I said before, I couldn't drive just yet, for two reasons, one I was scared, and second, I was worried about being behind the wheel. 

Now, I sat in bed, my phone propped against one of my knees as I FaceTimed João and Lilly. Their laughter echoed through the phone speaker, filling the room with a lightness I hadn't felt in days. They told me stories about their week, about the ridiculous things they had done, trying their best to distract me from the reality of my situation. I appreciated it more than they probably realized. I let them carry the conversation, offering small chuckles and smiles in return. It felt good, for a moment, to just listen, to exist without the weight of my own thoughts pressing down on me. To be honest, Lilly talked through most of the call in the last two hours, it's always been like that considering me and João just listened. I am more of a listener though, and of course, I didn't mind.