The best man

Chapter 10

Despite the sterile smell of antiseptic and the bright overhead lights, Conor seems determined to make the most of the moment, even in his weakened state. He shifts slightly in bed, his eyes locking onto mine with a familiar intensity that sends a shiver down my spine.

"You look really pretty tonight, you know that?" he says, his voice barely above a whisper but still dripping with the charm I used to find so irresistible.

I feel my cheeks flush, and I quickly shake my head. "Conor, please. I'm not here for this," I say firmly, trying to push back against the mix of gratitude and discomfort bubbling inside me. "You need to focus on healing."

He looks down, a hint of shame crossing his face. "I'm sorry about how I acted yesterday," he says quietly, his tone genuine. "I didn't mean to make things uncomfortable. I just—"

The words hang in the air, and for a moment, silence envelops us, broken only by the steady beeping of the machines around him. Then, Conor's expression shifts, revealing a deeper vulnerability. "I really miss you, Lily. I miss our talks and all the good times we had together. It feels like everything's changed."

I hold my breath, the weight of his words settling heavily between us. I want to respond, to tell him that I miss those moments too, but the truth is complicated. Instead, I stay silent, my heart torn in two directions.

Conor continues, his voice thick with emotion. "We used to have so much fun. Just hanging out, talking about anything and everything. It's hard not to feel like I've lost a part of myself without you."

I can feel the ache in my chest as I meet his gaze, torn between the memories of our friendship and the reality of where we stand now. "Things are different now, Conor," I finally manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper. "We can't go back to how things were."

He nods slowly, the disappointment evident in his eyes, but there's a flicker of hope in his expression too. "I just wish it didn't have to be this way."

I want to reach out, to comfort him, but I know the boundaries I need to uphold. "You need to focus on getting better, okay?" I say softly, trying to steer the conversation back to what matters. "Let's talk about your recovery instead."

Conor sighs, the fight leaving him for a moment. "Yeah, you're right," he concedes, but I can see the hurt lingering behind his eyes. The truth is, a part of me wishes things could go back to the way they were, but I know that moving forward is the only option.