unexpected love (Leah Williamson)

Hospital Awakening

Ella blinked groggily, the world around her coming into focus under the sterile white lights above. She could hear the faint beeping of monitors and the low murmur of voices outside the room. It took her a moment to realize she wasn't at home—she was in a hospital bed. Confusion and the lingering fog of sleep slowed her thoughts, but then she noticed Leah beside her, head bent, clutching Ella's hand as she slept in a chair.

The events of the night trickled back, and Ella's heart sank. She remembered the bar, the overwhelming feeling that had swallowed her, and then... darkness. Now she was here, in the same hospital where she herself worked, but this time as a patient.

Leah stirred, her eyes fluttering open. When she saw Ella looking back at her, she sat up straight, relief flooding her expression. "Ella! You're awake." Her voice was gentle, but Ella could hear the worry beneath it.

"Leah... I'm so sorry," Ella murmured, guilt tightening her throat. She hated the thought of Leah seeing her like this, so vulnerable.

But Leah shook her head, squeezing Ella's hand gently. "Ella, you don't have to apologize. I'm just glad you're okay. You scared me." Leah's voice cracked slightly, and Ella could see the exhaustion in her eyes, the worry lines creasing her forehead.

Ella took a deep breath, feeling the familiar scent of antiseptic around her, the too-bright lights, the hum of machines. She had been on this side of the bed so many times with her own patients, but being here herself felt different, unsettling. Her body ached, and the vulnerability of it all settled over her.

A doctor entered the room, her familiar face breaking into a soft smile when she saw Ella was awake. "Ella, it's good to see you're up. You gave us a bit of a scare last night," Dr. Patel said, glancing at Leah with a reassuring nod. "You had a significant panic attack and fainted. Leah called an ambulance, and we brought you in just to monitor you overnight."

Ella sighed, embarrassment creeping up her cheeks. "Thank you," she whispered. "I... I didn't mean for all this to happen."

Dr. Patel shook her head, her gaze understanding. "It's okay, Ella. You know as well as anyone that these things happen. You need to take care of yourself too."

After checking Ella's vitals and giving her the all-clear to go home, Dr. Patel left, promising to return if Ella had any questions. Leah turned back to her, her gaze filled with compassion. "Do you feel up to leaving?" she asked, her tone gentle.

Ella nodded slowly. "Yes... I'd like that." She reached for Leah's hand as she slowly sat up, grounding herself in the familiarity and warmth of Leah's presence. Leah stayed close, helping her as she gathered her things and checked out of the hospital, always by her side, always steady.

Once they were home, Leah guided Ella back to the couch, sitting beside her in comfortable silence. Ella felt the soft weight of a blanket Leah draped over her and sank into the quiet of the moment, the tension slowly draining from her body.

After a long pause, Ella looked over at Leah, her voice soft. "Thank you for... everything. For taking care of me." She let out a shaky breath, finally voicing the fear that had been gnawing at her. "I'm afraid sometimes, Leah... afraid that all of this, everything I feel, is too much."

Leah looked back at her, a gentle fierceness in her eyes. "Ella, it's never too much. I'm here, and I want to be here, through the good days and the hard ones. You don't have to go through this alone."

Ella reached for Leah's hand, her heart feeling lighter than it had in weeks. Maybe, just maybe, she could let Leah in fully, could learn to lean on her. She nodded, a small smile breaking through the exhaustion. "I think... I think I'm ready to try."

They stayed like that, close and quiet, both of them knowing that healing would take time, but that they had each other to make the journey together. And in that moment, Ella felt a glimmer of hope.