𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦, ʟᴜᴋᴇ ʜᴜɢʜᴇs

four

CHARLOTTE-ALEXANDRIA alarm went off at 5:15 AM, dragging her from a restless sleep. After a quick shower and getting dressed, she shuffled into the kitchen to prepare breakfast. As she was making coffee, the door creaked open, and Luke, fresh from the gym and shirtless, walked in.

Charlotte-Alexandria's cheeks flushed a light pink at the unexpected sight. She tried to focus on her coffee maker but couldn't help stealing glances at him.

"Morning, Lottie," Luke greeted her with a raspy, sleepy voice.

"Good morning, Luke," she managed to reply, her voice faltering slightly.

Luke chuckled, grabbing a mug. "Looks like someone's already up and at it. How's the morning treating you?"

Charlotte-Alexandria forced a smile, trying to shake off her flustered state. "Just getting ready for another day. Coffee's almost done."

The day took a dramatic turn when a tiny premature baby was brought into the NICU, struggling to breathe. Charlotte-Alexandria's heart raced as she assessed the baby's condition, trying to mask her rising panic.

"Prepare for intubation," she instructed her team, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. She could feel her hands trembling as she worked, but she forced herself to focus on the task at hand.

The NICU buzzed with controlled chaos, and every second felt like an eternity. Inside, her heart was pounding, her breaths coming faster. She mentally willed herself to stay calm, knowing that the baby needed her to be strong. Her hands were steady as she carefully guided the tube into place, each movement deliberate and precise.

Hours later, the crisis had passed, but the weight of it lingered. The baby was stable, and Charlotte-Alexandria felt a mix of relief and exhaustion wash over her. She maintained her composure, offering reassuring words to the parents before finally stepping out of the NICU.

She briskly walked outside in a secluded area of the hospital. she took her hair out of her clip, she let out a few steady breaths.

She wiped the tears of frustration she looked around, before digging through her hospital jacket, she grabbed the carton of  cigarettes.

She knew it was nasty habit and she shouldn't even have cigarettes but one wouldn't hurt, she grabbed her lighter that she kept for "candles"

She took a big inhale, let out a big cough the tabaco itching her throat. She dropped the cigarette stoping it out.

"C'mon Charlotte." She muttered.

When Charlotte-Alexandria got home, she decided to cozy up with a book in the living room. She needed something to distract her from the day's events.

It was past 11 and Luke and Jack were usually doing something in the living room, but she knew tomorrow was their game and Luke's first game as a Devil so she knew they were fast asleep.

As she settled into the couch, her comfy outfit feeling nice and warm as she opened up to her bookmark. Luke suddenly barged out of his room, his face pale and eyes wide with panic.

Charlotte-Alexandria jumped up, instantly alert. "Luke, what's wrong?"

"I-I can't breathe," he gasped, clutching his chest. "I think I'm having a panic attack."

She quickly moved to his side, her own heart racing. "It's okay, Luke. I'm here. Just focus on my voice. Breathe with me, okay?"

She guided him through slow, deep breaths, her hand on his back in a soothing gesture. "In and out, nice and slow. You're safe. Just keep breathing."