Through my eyes||Dino

-15-

The last leg of the tour had ended, and the group was finally headed home. The group has been through so much--performing in new cities, meeting fans, meeting with the pressures of life in the road. But for Sara, the final days were a blur of painkillers, hospital gowns, and fractured memories. Her leg was healing slowly, and while the doctors assured her it would eventually be okay, the recovery process would take time.

Chan insisted on staying behind when the rest of the members boarded their flights back to Korea. Sara didn't want him to, of course. She didn't want to be a burden. But he wouldn't hear of it. He refused to leave her side, even when the others begged him to get some rest. "You need to sleep, Chan. The members need you" she'd told him softly one night after the others had left. "They'll be fine. I'm not going anywhere," he replied, his voice firm, as he adjusted her blankets. Despite her protests, Chan stayed. He stayed up to help her through the rough nights, to make sure she ate, to hold her hand when she cried. It was overwhelming, and Sara felt a storm of emotions inside her-- gratefulness, confusion, love.

Taylor had to leave, too, due to work commitments with the company, plus, Sara was still mad that she told everyone so she also took that as a chance to save her life. When the hospital informed Sara she was finally being discharged, it was just Chan by her side as she limped out into the bright daylight of the city. Sara was glad to have Chan there, but she couldn't ignore the gnawing guilt in the pit of her stomach. He could be with his members, preparing for the next fase of their tour, but instead, he was with her--his focus entirely on her.

"I'm sorry" she murmured to him one evening as they sat in the small apartment she'd been renting near the hospital. " I never wanted to keep you from your life." Chan smiled softly, his hands finding hers, squeezing it tightly. "You're not keeping me from anything. I want to be here, Sara. I want to make sure you're okay." She glanced down at their interwind fingers, warmth blooming in her chest. Maybe he was right. Maybe this was what she needed to learn: she wasn't a burden, and she wasn't alone. She had him.

-•-

The next day Chan surprised her with a picnic in the park. there wasn't many people around, and he picked it especially because of that. Sara was shocked when he showed up with a basket in hand, grinning ear to ear. "A picnic?" she asked, her eyes widening. "Yup. I thought it might cheer you up. Plus the weathers nice." he helped her sit on the blanket, setting everything up with a concentration that made her heart flutter. They ate together, the heaviness of worry and pain seemed to lift as they laughed, shared stories, and simply enjoyed being in each other's presence. When they were finished, Chan handed her a small box. Sara's eyes furrowed. " What's this?"

"Open it" he urged, his eyes gleaming. Inside the box was a delicate silver necklace with a small metal charm shaped like a dino. She gasped "Chan... this is--" He smiled, "I'ts for you. I know it sound silly, but it's a little piece of me for you to carry around. A reminder that you're not alone."

Sara started crying, she ran her fingers over the charm, feeling the warmth of the gesture settle into her heart."I--" she started but her voice caught. "I don't know what to say." Chan's expression softened, and he reached out, his thumb gently brushing her cheek. "You don't have to say anything. I just wanted you to know how important you are to me." A wave of emotion rushed over her. Before she could respond, Chan leaned in, his lips almost brushing hers. But Sara's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively pulled back. "wait," she said, her voice tremblig. "Someone might see us."

Chan sighed in mock defeat, but his smile remained. " Guess I'll have to settle for this." He pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek instead, and before Sara could register what had just happened, he sprang to his feet and started running away from her. "Hey, get back here, I can't run that's not fair!" she yelled, laughing despite herself. She hobbled after him, forgetting her injured leg, as they raced through the park, Sara chasing him down with newfound energy. She caught up to him just as he turned around, laughing too. They collapsed into the grass, breathless and smiling, and for that moment. The whole world fell right.