Between the pages

Chapter 10 The silence behind each word

You sat on the edge of the bed, the sterile sheets crinkling beneath you, a tray of breakfast sitting untouched in front of you. The food—a dry pile of scrambled eggs, toast, and fruit that looked more like a garnish than a meal—was barely noticed as you focused on the notebook before you. Your pen moved steadily across the pages, writing the next part of your story, the words flowing in rhythm with the quiet hum of the room.

The hospital room was still, the air heavy with the scent of antiseptic, and the dim light from the window cast long shadows across the walls. Outside, the world moved on, but inside, time felt like it was suspended, the quiet broken only by the small sounds of your writing. The weight of the room pressing in, but for now, you were lost in the rhythm of the pen on paper, writing your way through the stillness, sharing tales of untold moments you wished to tell.

The hospital food honestly tasted so bland... it was annoying. The eggs were tasteless, the toast too dry, and the fruit barely even resembled anything fresh. Every bite felt like an obligation rather than something to enjoy, and it was hard not to feel irritated by how unappealing it all was. 

As you continued to write, your eyes grew heavy, craving just a few minutes of sleep. But every time you started to drift off, a sudden jolt would snap you awake. It was getting on your nerves, but what was the point of complaining? There was nothing you could do to stop it, so you just kept going, exhaustion creeping in and slowly plaguing your consciousness.

The hospital papers from this morning remained forgotten in the drawer. You didn't want to look at them—not because you couldn't, but because the simple fact that you couldn't sleep was reminder enough of the crappy situation you were stuck in. Seeing those papers again would only make it worse.

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With a little effort and shuffling, you were able to stumbly get up, allowing yourself to stretch away the exhaustion a little.

 You walk towards the window opening it slightly to allow some fresh air into the room to drown out the sterile, antiseptic smell. Once you turn off the AC, the room felt less stifling. The cool air blew into the room filling your lungs, breathing in the familiar smell of the outside air was nice, it provided a temporary escape from the weight, offering even a few seconds of respite.

It reminded you so much of the scenes in each book you've read that you've longed for.

You took a deep breath and opened the notebook, flipping through the pages. There was something comforting about the characters on the page, even if you hadn't written much since the morning. They were your escape, your own little world to disappear into when everything else felt heavy.

After about a good 40 minutes. A sudden knock at the door startled you from your thoughts. You quickly closed the notebook and turned toward it, trying to steady yourself. It was just the nurse, you reminded yourself. Just another check-in.

"Hey there, Y/N," the nurse greeted with a soft smile as she entered the room, holding a clipboard. "How's everything today?"

You forced a smile in return, though it didn't reach your eyes. "Same as usual. Nothing new."

She jotted something down, glancing over at the untouched food. "You're not eating much again."

It's easier when there's someone to talk to, you thought absently, a part of you wishing Giyu would appear right now. His visits, brief as they were, were like a breath of fresh air in the suffocating space. His voice, his presence, even his quiet way of sitting beside you—it was a small comfort in a place where nothing felt right.

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Time seemed to slip by unnoticed, the minutes blending together, and before you knew it, it was already around 12 in the afternoon. You only snapped out of the quiet haze when your phone suddenly rang, the sound cutting through the stillness of the room. Glancing at the screen, you saw the time, and a sense of surprise washed over you. You hadn't realized how much time had passed.

Your fingers carefully hold the gadget, your thumb lightly pressing the button as you put the phone beside your ear.

"Hey Y/N, just came to check in on you, I won't be able to visit today, is that alright?"

"Aw.. really?" The words slipped out before you could stop them, a hint of disappointment lingering in your voice.

Before you could take your words back, Giyu quickly picked up on the shift in your tone. "I mean, I can try asking if I could—"

"H-Hey, no, I was kidding! It's alright, you can visit tomorrow," you rushed to say, the embarrassment creeping in. You didn't want him to feel bad.

Truth be told it was upsetting that he wasn't gonna visit today, you were looking forward to it. But.. work is work

"I'm really... sorry—"

"It's alright... see you tomorrow."

He hung up, and you slipped your phone into your pocket, an obvious frown tugging at your lips. 

The quiet that followed felt heavier now, the emptiness of the room suddenly more pronounced as you sank back into the bed. You tried to push the disappointment aside, telling yourself it was fine, that he would be there tomorrow, but the loneliness still hung in the air, filling the space where his presence had been.

Time seemed to pace slower after that, it wasn't like how it usually passed by where hours only felt like minutes. Maybe because it was lonely, the silence stretching on making seconds feel like minutes.

Tomorrow the word repeated itself into your head. A faint smile lightly tugging on your lips as you entertained the idea. He'll come tomorrow. 

For now, though, you let yourself get lost in the story that unfolded before you, each word a small escape from the quiet of the room. The characters, their world, and their struggles became your own for a while, offering a temporary refuge as you focused on the rhythm of your pen, writing your way through the stillness.

She'll tell the story that I hoped to have had