Submerge

IT'S OVER

N A T H A N

The morning of Mason's surgery came too soon.

The sound of the hospital machines, with their constant beeping, felt louder than ever. 

Every beep, every sterile smell, every white wall felt like a countdown to something terrible. 

I sat in the hard plastic chair outside the operating room, staring blankly at the closed doors, willing them to open with good news.

Mason was in surgery. 

He'd been in there for over an hour now, and every second that ticked by felt like it was tightening a knot in my chest. 

My hands were shaking, and I kept rubbing my palms against my jeans, trying to stop them, but nothing worked.

Liam sat beside me, his presence quiet but grounding. He didn't say much, just rested a comforting hand on my shoulder now and then, reminding me he was here. 

I was grateful for him. 

I didn't know how I would get through this without him sitting here, being a steady anchor when I felt like I was drowning.

"He's strong, Nate," Liam said softly, breaking the silence. "He's been through hell, but he'll come out of this. You'll see."

I nodded, swallowing hard, trying to push down the wave of emotion that threatened to break through. "I just... I should've protected him, Liam. I should've—"

"Don't go there." Liam's voice was firm but kind. "You did everything you could. This isn't on you."

But it was. No matter how much anyone told me otherwise,

Liam's hand tightened on my shoulder. "He's going to make it through this. Focus on that."

I nodded again, but my heart still felt like it was trapped in a vice. The guilt, the fear—it was suffocating.

The minutes dragged on. Hours, maybe. I wasn't sure anymore. 

I couldn't bring myself to check the clock. Every time the doors opened and a doctor or nurse stepped out, my stomach twisted, and my throat clenched.

Finally, the doors swung open, and a doctor walked out, pulling down his surgical mask as he approached us.

I shot up from my seat, my heart hammering in my chest.

"How is he?" I asked, my voice cracking with the desperation I couldn't hide.

The doctor gave a small, tired smile. 

"The surgery went well. We were able to reset the fractures in his leg. He'll need time to heal, but physically, he's stable. We'll continue to monitor him closely, especially with the concussion and internal injuries. He'll be in recovery for a while."

I exhaled, the tension releasing just a bit, though it didn't vanish completely. He was stable. For now, that was enough. "Can I see him?"

"He's still coming out of anesthesia," the doctor said, his tone gentle. "But once he's settled in his room, you can be with him. I'll let the nurses know to come get you when he's ready."

I nodded, swallowing hard, feeling the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me. "Thank you," I managed to say.

The doctor nodded and walked away, leaving me standing there, feeling half-relieved and half-terrified for what would come next.