When the Lights Went Out

Chapter 3

Days blurred together as you found yourself returning to the hospital, unable to stay away. The thought of going home and sleeping in your own bed felt wrong, impossible even, when she was lying motionless in that sterile room. The guilt gnawed at you constantly, a heavy weight on your chest that made it hard to breathe. After work, you would head straight to the hospital. You'd sit in the waiting area, sometimes for hours, just to be close to her. You didn't dare go inside the room without Taehyun's permission, but you couldn't bring yourself to leave either.

 The nurses started recognizing you, giving you sympathetic looks as they passed by. Taehyun noticed you, too. Every time he walked down the hallway and saw you sitting there, his jaw would clench, his eyes narrowing with a mix of anger and disdain. But he said nothing, just walked past you, his cold presence cutting through the air like a knife.

One evening, after another long day at work, you found yourself in your usual spot, staring blankly at the floor. The exhaustion was catching up with you, but you couldn't bring yourself to leave. Taehyun appeared, as he often did, but this time, he paused. You looked up, catching his eye, and for a moment, you thought you saw something other than anger in his expression. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by that familiar coldness.

"Taehyun, please," you said, your voice barely above a whisper. "Let me see her. Just for a moment. I need to see her."He didn't answer right away, just stood there, staring at you with a look that made your heart sink. When he finally spoke, his voice was flat, devoid of any warmth. "No," he said firmly. "You've done enough."His words hit you like a physical blow, and you felt your knees weaken. "Please," you begged, tears welling up in your eyes. "Just for a minute. I... I can't keep going like this. I need to see her."

Taehyun's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing as he took a step closer. "You don't get to make this about you," he snapped, his voice sharp. "You think seeing her will make you feel better? It won't. She's still in that bed because of you. You need to stay away."

You shook your head, the tears now streaming freely down your face. "I'm sorry," you whispered, your voice breaking. "I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. Please..."But Taehyun just turned his back on you, walking away without another word. 

You watched him go, the sound of his footsteps echoing down the hallway, leaving you feeling more alone than ever.You collapsed into a nearby chair, your body shaking with sobs. The pain of his rejection cut deep, a reminder of the rift that had formed between you. You couldn't blame him for hating you; after all, you hated yourself too. 

For hours, you sat there, crying until you had no more tears left to shed. The nurses who had become accustomed to your presence didn't bother you, understanding that you needed this time to grieve. But no amount of crying could wash away the guilt, the overwhelming sorrow that consumed you. You were stuck in a cycle of regret and pain, and the only person who could possibly understand was the one who refused to forgive you.

As the night wore on, the hospital grew quieter, the bustling energy of the day fading into the stillness of the night. But even in the silence, your thoughts were loud, a constant reminder of the life that lay on the other side of that door—a life that might never wake up. And you knew, deep down, that no matter how many times you returned to this place, you might never be allowed to make things right.