His name was Nathaniel

54

Nathaniel was lying in his bed, staring at the ceiling in frustration. His doctors had ordered him to complete bed rest for the next few weeks to allow his ankle to heal properly, and much to his irritation, his grandfather had arranged for him to stay with his maternal grandparents to ensure that he ate properly and took care of himself.

Victor, always pragmatic, had insisted that Nathaniel needed someone to keep an eye on him, given his recent collapse and reckless behavior. And while Nathaniel knew his grandfather meant well, the idea of being fussed over like a child was grating on his nerves.

His grandparents' estate was large and peaceful, tucked away from the chaos of the city, but it wasn't where Nathaniel wanted to be. The nurses and staff fluttered around him constantly, and his grandmother treated him like he was still ten years old, bringing him meals and insisting he take his medication on time. His grandfather's strict monitoring wasn't any easier to deal with, especially when he would pop into his room, reminding him to rest.

"You need to eat," his grandmother, Grace, said as she entered his room with a tray of food. Her voice was kind but firm, the same tone she'd used on him ever since he was a boy. "You're too thin."

Nathaniel suppressed a sigh as he sat up and took the tray. "I'm fine, Grandma."

"Humor me, darling," she said, patting his hand before she left the room. He sighed again, defeated.

He had been working from home, trying to keep up with his responsibilities while confined to his grandparents' care, but it was difficult to focus. His ankle ached, his body felt restless, and worst of all, his mind was still fixated on Adaliya.

It had been over a week since he last saw her, and still, no word from her. No texts, no calls, no explanation. He tried not to let it get to him, but the silence was driving him crazy. He had sent her a follow-up text after their weekend together, hoping to hear something, anything. But there had been nothing but silence.

Today had been no different. Nathaniel had been trying to get some work done, his laptop open in front of him as he typed out emails and responded to messages. But his mind kept drifting back to Adaliya, wondering why she hadn't responded, what she was thinking, whether she had decided not to give him another chance after all.

Just as he was about to close his laptop in frustration, his phone pinged with a new notification. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly grabbed it, hoping against hope that it was her.

It was.

He opened the message, his eyes scanning the screen with urgency.

Adaliya:
Hey Nathaniel, I'm so sorry for the late reply. My phone broke a few days ago, and I had to get it repaired. I just got it back. I hope you're doing well.

Nathaniel let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. So that was it—her phone had been broken. Relief washed over him, though a small part of him still felt unsettled. It wasn't her fault, of course, but the waiting had taken its toll on him.

He quickly typed out a response.

Nathaniel:
No need to apologize, I'm just glad to hear from you. I hope everything's okay on your end. I've been thinking about you.

He hit send and leaned back in his bed, feeling the tension in his chest begin to ease. She hadn't been ignoring him; it had just been a technical issue. That was a good sign, right?

As he waited for her reply, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching his room. His grandfather, Victor, appeared in the doorway, his expression as stern as ever.

"Are you actually working, or are you daydreaming again?" Victor asked, his eyes narrowing at Nathaniel's laptop.

"I'm working," Nathaniel replied, though his tone was a bit sharper than intended. He wasn't in the mood for another lecture.

Victor crossed his arms, clearly unimpressed. "Good. But remember what the doctors said—bed rest means resting. I'm not paying for top doctors just for you to ignore them."

Nathaniel fought the urge to roll his eyes. "I know, Grandfather. I'm resting."

Victor sighed, walking over to stand by the side of the bed. "I'm only saying this because I care. You've been pushing yourself too hard. You need to let your body recover."

Nathaniel nodded, though he couldn't shake the feeling of being treated like a child. "I get it. I'm just... not used to sitting still."

Victor softened slightly, his hand resting on Nathaniel's shoulder. "I know it's not easy for you, but you'll thank me later. Now, get some rest before you end up in worse shape than before."

As his grandfather left the room, Nathaniel's phone buzzed again. He picked it up, his heart lifting slightly when he saw that it was another message from Adaliya.

Adaliya:
Everything's fine now. I'm sorry again for the delay, but I've been thinking too... about everything we talked about over the weekend. It's a lot to process, but I haven't forgotten about you.

Nathaniel's chest tightened at her words. She hadn't forgotten about him. That was all he needed to hear.

Nathaniel:
Take all the time you need. I just wanted to make sure you're okay. I'll be here whenever you're ready to talk.

He put his phone down, feeling a mix of relief and hope wash over him. He knew that things between them were still fragile, but at least now, there was a chance. All he had to do was wait.

And in the meantime, he would have to deal with his overbearing grandparents and the seemingly endless cycle of bed rest and recovery. He wasn't happy about it, but if it meant he could be in better shape when he saw Adaliya again, then maybe it was worth it.

Nathaniel closed his laptop and leaned back against the pillows, letting his mind wander back to her, wondering what the future held for them.