Another Day With You | AnunKamol

Chapter 3: Awake

The storm had passed by morning, leaving the city drenched and quiet. In the ICU, the soft beeping of monitors and the gentle hum of machines filled the air. Lily sat beside Ayden's bed, her eyes heavy with exhaustion but refusing to leave her side. She watched as Ayden's eyelids fluttered, a sign that consciousness was returning.

"Ayden?" Lily whispered, leaning forward. "Can you hear me?"

Ayden's eyes slowly opened, her gaze unfocused and disoriented. She blinked a few times, her brow furrowing as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. When her eyes finally settled on Lily, they widened in surprise.

"Lily?" Ayden's voice was weak, barely more than a whisper. "What... what happened?"

"You were in a car accident," Lily explained gently. "You're in the hospital. You're going to be okay."

Ayden's eyes filled with tears, and she turned her head away, a mixture of relief and pain etched on her face. "I didn't expect to see you here," she said, her voice trembling. "It's been so long."

Lily swallowed hard, her own emotions threatening to overwhelm her. "I'm here now," she said softly. "That's all that matters."

Ayden looked back at her, her eyes searching Lily's face for answers. "Why did you leave, Lily?" she asked, the question heavy with old wounds. "Why did you walk away?"

Lily took a deep breath, struggling to find the right words. "I didn't want to, Ayden. But everything was falling apart. We were falling apart. I thought... I thought it was the only way."

"The only way to what? To save us?" Ayden's voice grew stronger, tinged with anger and hurt. "You broke my heart, Lily. You left me alone."

"I was hurting too, Ayden," Lily replied, her own pain surfacing. "I was drowning in work, trying to escape the pain of losing you. But I never stopped loving you."

The room fell silent, the weight of their shared history hanging heavy between them. Lily reached out, taking Ayden's hand in hers. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."

Ayden's grip tightened, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I missed you so much, Lily. But I don't know if I can go through that pain again."

Before Lily could respond, the door to the ICU room opened, and Nolan and Paige stepped inside. They had been watching from the hallway, their concern evident on their faces.

"Lily, is everything okay?" Nolan asked, her eyes flicking between Lily and Ayden.

Lily nodded, quickly wiping away her tears. "Yes, Nolan. Ayden just woke up. We were just... talking."

Nolan's eyes lingered on Lily, a mix of worry and something deeper in his gaze. She had always been there for her, a constant support, but her own feelings for her were becoming harder to hide.

Paige, sensing the tension, stepped forward with a bright smile. "I'm so glad you're awake, Ayden. You gave us all quite a scare."

Ayden managed a small smile in return. "Thank you, Paige. I appreciate everything you've done."

As the group stood there, the emotions in the room were tense. Nolan's concern for Lily was tinged with jealousy, while Paige's curiosity about the relationship between Lily and Ayden grew.

"We'll leave you two to rest," Nolan said finally, her voice tight. "If you need anything, just call."

Lily nodded, her eyes following Nolan and Paige as they left the room. She knew she had to talk to Nolan, to explain everything, but right now, her focus was on Ayden.

Turning back to Ayden, she squeezed her hand gently. "We have a lot to talk about," she said softly. "But for now, just rest."

Ayden nodded, her eyes closing as exhaustion took over. "Okay, Lily.You need to rest too."

"I will," Lily whispered.

As Ayden drifted back to sleep, Lily sat by her side, her heart heavy with the weight of their past and the hope for their future. The road ahead would be difficult, but she was determined to face it, one day at a time.

Now, sitting in the sterile confines of the ICU, Lily wondered if they could ever return to that place of simple joy and unwavering support. The wounds they had inflicted on each other were deep, and the scars of their past arguments and misunderstandings still lingered.

"Will it ever be the same?" Lily whispered to herself, her eyes fixed on Ayden's peaceful face. She wanted to believe that they could rebuild what they had lost, but doubt gnawed at her. They were different people now, shaped by years of pain and separation.

Lily's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Nolan stepped in quietly, her expression a mix of concern and something Lily couldn't quite decipher.

"How's she doing?" Nolan asked softly, her eyes flicking to Ayden before settling on Lily.

"She's stable," Lily replied, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

Nolan nodded, stepping closer. "You should get some rest too, Lily. You've been here all night."

"I can't leave her," Lily said, shaking her head. "Not yet."

Nolan sighed, pulling up a chair beside her. "I understand. But you need to take care of yourself too. You won't be any help to her if you're exhausted."

Lily knew she was right, but the thought of leaving Ayden's side, even for a moment, filled her with anxiety. She looked at Nolan, seeing the genuine concern in her eyes, and felt a pang of guilt. Nolan had always been there for her, silently supporting her through everything, even when her own feelings were at stake.

"I'm sorry, Nolan," Lily said quietly. "For everything. I know this hasn't been easy for you."

Nolan gave her a sad smile. "You don't need to apologize, Lily. I just want you to be happy. That's all I've ever wanted."

Lily reached out, taking Nolan's hand in hers. "Thank you for always being there for me. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Nolan squeezed her hand gently, her eyes filled with unspoken emotions. "You'll never have to find out."

As they sat in silence, the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future hung heavy in the air. Lily's heart was torn between the love she had for Ayden and the loyalty she felt towards Nolan.

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the hospital windows, Ayden stirred. Lily, who had dozed off in her chair, woke up instantly, her heart racing as she watched Ayden's eyes flutter open.

"Hey," Lily said softly, leaning forward. "How are you feeling?"

Ayden blinked, her gaze settling on Lily. "Tired. Sore. But better, I think."

Lily smiled, relief washing over her. "That's good."

Ayden tried to smile back, but it faltered. "Lily, about yesterday... I'm sorry if I was harsh. I've just been carrying so much pain."

"I know," Lily said, her voice breaking. "I've been carrying it too."

Ayden looked at her, the vulnerability in her eyes mirrored by Lily's own. "I don't know if we can ever be the same," she admitted. "But maybe... maybe we can be something better."

Lily nodded, tears spilling over.

As they sat together, holding hands, a tentative hope began to bloom and for the first time in years, Lily felt a glimmer of possibility.

Ayden squeezed her hand, her eyes filled with a mix of hope and fear. "One day at a time, Lily."