A Backstage Love I Han Jisung x Reader

The Light Once so Bright, Faded

I don't know how much time has passed. Everything is a haze, as if I'm floating in a void where time doesn't exist. There's no pain here, no sound-just a strange, oppressive silence that makes me feel like I'm sinking deeper into nothingness.

But then, slowly, something begins to pull me back. It's faint at first, a distant murmuring that gradually grows louder. The darkness around me starts to thin, giving way to a dim, unfamiliar light. My body feels heavy, leaden, but I can sense the cold, sterile air on my skin. The sensation is distant, as if I'm only half-awake, but it's there.

A soft beeping sound reaches my ears, rhythmic and persistent. I struggle to open my eyes, but they feel glued shut, my eyelids too heavy to lift. The world around me is muffled, like I'm hearing it through layers of cotton. There's a dull ache in my head, spreading through my limbs, but it's overshadowed by the confusion clouding my mind.

Where am I?

With great effort, I manage to crack my eyes open. The harsh, white light stings, forcing me to squint as my vision slowly adjusts. Everything is blurry, but I can make out the outline of a room-white walls, machines, a stiff bed beneath me. The beeping I hear comes from a monitor beside the bed, its green line spiking with every beat of my heart.

It takes a moment for everything to click into place. Hospital. I'm in a hospital.

Panic flares in my chest, quickening the beeps on the monitor. I try to move, to sit up, but a sharp pain in my side pins me down. A groan escapes my lips, the sound hoarse and raw, as if I haven't used my voice in days. My throat feels parched, and I realize with a start that I'm hooked up to an IV, a plastic tube snaking into my arm.

What happened? How did I get here?

Fragments of memory start to surface-flashing lights, the screech of tires, the sensation of being thrown through the air. The accident. It all comes rushing back in a disjointed flood of images and sensations. My heart pounds in my chest as the reality of it sinks in. I was hit. The realization makes my breath catch in my throat.

I don't know how badly I'm hurt, but the pain in my body tells me it's serious. Every movement sends a jolt of agony through my limbs, forcing me to stay still. I try to focus on the room, to take in my surroundings and figure out where I am, but my mind is still foggy, struggling to piece everything together.

A sudden noise startles me, and I turn my head toward the door. It creaks open, and a nurse steps inside, her expression a mixture of surprise and relief when she sees me awake.

"Oh, you're awake!" she exclaims softly, rushing to my side. "Don't try to move too much. You've been through a lot."

I want to ask her what happened, how long I've been here, but my voice refuses to cooperate. All I manage is a weak croak that makes my throat burn.

"Shh, it's okay," she soothes, gently adjusting the IV in my arm. "You were in a pretty bad accident, but you're safe now. Just try to relax. The doctor will be here soon."

I nod weakly, too exhausted to do anything else. The nurse's words provide little comfort, but at least I'm not alone. As she continues to check my vitals, I close my eyes, trying to calm the racing thoughts in my head. I'm alive, but everything feels so uncertain. What will happen now? How long have I been here? What about my life outside these sterile walls?

The door opens again, and this time, a doctor walks in, clipboard in hand. His expression is serious but not unkind as he approaches the bed.

"Hello," he says gently, his voice calm and steady. "I'm Dr. Yu. You've been through quite an ordeal. How are you feeling?"

I take a shaky breath, trying to find my voice. "Confused," I managed to rasp out.

He nods understandingly. "That's perfectly normal. You were in a car accident, and you've been unconscious for a few days. We've run several tests, and while you have some injuries, you're stable. You're very lucky to have survived."

Lucky. The word feels strange, almost foreign. I don't feel lucky-I feel shattered, like my entire world has been upended.

As Dr. Lee outlines the severity of my injuries-shattered ribs, a concussion, and worst of all, paralysis from the waist down-my mind drifts into a distant, unreachable place. It feels as though the accident claimed more than just my body. Not only have I ruined everything with Han, but now the one thing that defined me-dancing-seems forever out of reach.

My mind slowly drifts to the people who might be worried about me. My coworkers, Hana, the members, Han. Do they know? Have they been here? The thought of them sitting by my side, waiting for me to wake up, fills me with a strange mix of dread and comfort.

"I understand this is all overwhelming. I will say that the outcome could have been much worse. There is a small possibility for recovery, if your body and will are strong enough to try." Dr. Lee says, pulling me from my thoughts. "If you need anything or have questions, just press the call button, okay?"

I nod weakly, and he gives me a reassuring smile before leaving the room. The nurse follows him out, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

As the door clicks shut, I let out a shaky breath. The pain in my body is nothing compared to the turmoil in my mind. I'm alive, but everything has changed. The simple act of walking down the street, something I've done a thousand times, has left me here, broken and uncertain of what comes next.

But one thing is clear-I have to face whatever comes, even if it means picking up the pieces of a life I no longer recognize.

As the door closes behind Dr. Lee, silence settles over the room once again. The only sounds are the soft hum of the machines and the steady beep of the heart monitor beside me. I stare up at the ceiling, trying to process everything that's happened. My thoughts are a jumbled mess, but one thing keeps surfacing: I could have died. The realization sends a shiver down my spine.

I close my eyes, trying to push the thought away, but it lingers like a dark cloud. What if I hadn't survived? What if that car had hit me just a little harder? The what-ifs swirl around my mind, each one more terrifying than the last. It's overwhelming, and I feel tears prick at the corners of my eyes.

No. I can't think like that. I'm here. I'm alive. But the thought brings little comfort. All I can think about is how close I came to losing everything. My life, my dreams, the people I care about-it all feels so fragile now, like it could shatter at any moment.

I try to shift in the bed, but pain flares in my side, making me wince. The nurse was right-I shouldn't move. I have to be careful. But being careful isn't something I'm used to. I've always been the type to push myself, to take risks, to dive headfirst into everything. And now... now I'm scared. Scared of what could happen if I'm not careful enough.

A soft knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts, and I look up to see another familiar face-a face I wasn't sure I'd ever see again. Han steps into the room, his expression a mixture of relief and worry. His hair is disheveled, and there are dark circles under his eyes, like he hasn't slept in days. The sight of him makes my heart ache.

"Hey," he says quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "You're awake."