Folding For You

Chapter 25: Killian

Relief crashed over me so hard that I almost collapsed beside her. I squeezed her hand tighter, feeling the slightest pressure back from her fingers. She was here. She was still here.

"I'm here," I said, my voice raw, trembling. "I'm right here."

Before leaving, Dr. Frederine stood up and said, "She's through the worst. She'll need rest, but she's going to be okay."

But I couldn't hear him. I couldn't focus on anything but her. I didn't let go of her hand. I didn't look away from her. The panic was still there, lingering, the fear that I'd been so close to losing her almost too much to bear. I bent down, pressing my forehead to her hand, closing my eyes.

I wouldn't let this happen again. I wouldn't let anyone get close enough to hurt her ever again. Whoever did this—they were already living on borrowed time.

But for now, I was just grateful that she was still here. That I still had her.

I crouched down beside her, gripping her hand tighter, my heart aching with every fragile breath she took. Her face was still too pale, her lips dry, but her eyelids fluttered slightly, and I knew she was waking. I swallowed hard, trying to control the tremble in my voice.

"Hey, Dimples... hey," I whispered, barely holding it together.

Sabrina blinked her eyes open weakly, her gaze unfocused at first. She looked at me, her eyes soft but filled with confusion. "Is this a dream?" she asked, her voice so faint I had to lean in to hear her.

"No, it's not, baby. You're okay," I said, trying to keep my tone steady despite my insides crumbling.

She closed her eyes briefly, then looked at me again, her lips curving into a weak, dreamy smile. "If it's a dream, I don't want to wake up. I miss you so much, Killian."

That did it. I couldn't hold back any longer. The urge to kiss her was overwhelming, and before I could stop myself, I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers. It wasn't just a kiss—it was everything I'd been holding in, all the fear, the guilt, and the love I never stopped feeling for her. She kissed me weakly but sweetly, enough to break me all over again.

She reached up slowly, her fingers tracing the lines of my face, gently running over my eyes, nose, and jaw. "You don't look so good, baby, but you're still very handsome," she whispered with a faint smile.

I couldn't help it. I kissed her forehead repeatedly, over and over, like it would keep her grounded here with me.

"How have you been?" she asked softly.

"Horrible. Just horrible, Dimples," I admitted, my voice cracking.

She smiled, pleased that my life came tumbling down without her. "I'm glad."

I laughed, even though it felt like I might cry again. Fuck. My life without her turned into this big crying fest. She managed to switch on my entire watergate system, but only she had the power to switch it off.

Her playful response, despite everything, felt like a tiny crack of light in the darkness. Then her eyes softened even more, and I saw their vulnerability, the hurt she'd been carrying.

"Do you hate me, Dimples?" I asked, my heart breaking as I waited for her answer.

She shook her head softly. "No, how can I ever hate you, Killian? It's just that.... why did you give me the option to live without you when I can't?... I just can't."

Slowly, her tears fell as she began to wipe them away, and that broke me apart.

I pulled her into me, hugging her so tightly I thought I'd never let go. "I'm sorry, Dimples. I'm so sorry," I whispered against her skin, kissing her lips again, tasting the salt of my tears on her. "I can't... oh God, I'm so sorry."