Where the Sun meets the Star

9. A Love Realize

Chapter 9: A Love Realized

Dr. Amara Velasco’s POV

The soft, early morning light painted his face, highlighting the lines of exhaustion and the pale hue of his skin. He was still so weak, every shallow breath making me ache. I hadn’t moved from his bedside all night, too afraid that if I let go of his hand, he might slip away again. The scent of antiseptic hung heavy in the air, but it was a familiar smell now, a constant reminder of the reality we were living in.

I took a steadying breath, glancing at my watch. Dawn had come, and soon, I’d have to resume my rounds. Yet, every instinct screamed to stay here, with him, as long as I could. I wasn’t ready to face the world outside these tent walls, not after what had happened, not after the fragile promise we’d shared last night.

A gentle knock at the entrance interrupted my thoughts. Nurse Janine poked her head in, her expression a mix of relief and concern. “Hey, Dr. Velasco. How’s he doing?”

I glanced at Kalix’s still-sleeping form and managed a tired smile. “He’s stable. For now. But we’ll need to monitor him closely for any signs of infection or complications. His body’s been through a lot.”

Janine stepped closer, her gaze softening. “And how are you doing? You’ve been here all night, Amara. You should rest.”

I knew she was right, but the thought of leaving him even for a few hours made my chest tighten. Kalix stirred, his fingers twitching slightly against mine. I quickly brushed his forehead with my other hand, feeling his temperature—he was a bit warm, but thankfully, not feverish.

“I’ll rest later,” I said softly. “Right now, I just… I can’t leave him.”

Janine didn’t press, only nodding in understanding. “Alright, but I’ll bring you some breakfast. You can’t take care of him if you don’t take care of yourself.”

I managed a grateful nod as she left. My attention turned back to Kalix, feeling the weight of his hand in mine, grounding me in the uncertainty of our situation. I didn’t know what the future held or how many more moments like this we’d have, but for now, I was here, and that was enough.

Captain Kalix Santiago’s POV

When I finally woke up again, it was mid-morning. The tent was quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of the monitor, a constant reminder that I was still breathing, still fighting. I blinked, adjusting to the brightness, and noticed Amara beside me. Her head was resting on her folded arms, her face relaxed in a rare moment of rest. The soft light filtering through the tent flap cast a warm glow on her features, highlighting the faint dark circles under her eyes and the lines of worry that hadn’t yet faded.

Even asleep, she looked exhausted, and guilt twisted inside me—she shouldn’t have to deal with this, with the risk of losing someone because of a life I’d chosen.

I shifted slightly, wincing as pain shot through my shoulder, but I didn’t want to disturb her. Seeing her like this, her vulnerability exposed, only deepened the strange ache inside me. This woman, who was usually so composed and driven, had stayed by my side when it would have been easier to walk away.

Before I could think too much, her eyes fluttered open, and she sat up, quickly adjusting her posture when she realized I was awake. Her gaze softened as she looked at me, a mixture of relief and irritation flickering across her face.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, her voice a little rough from fatigue.

I managed a small smile. “Alive, thanks to you.”