WOULD YOU RESCUE ME?

63.Unyielding Hearts

The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the television, its muted light flickering softly across the walls. Vanessa had fallen asleep not long after their conversation, her honey-brown eyes finally closing as exhaustion overtook her. Astra remained awake, leaning her head gently on Vanessa's shoulder. She could feel Vanessa's uneven breaths beneath her, each inhale and exhale shaky, as though her lungs were struggling to find their rhythm.

Every time Vanessa shifted in her sleep, her body would flinch slightly, a reflex to the pain she was undoubtedly feeling. Each subtle wince was like a dagger to Astra's chest, tightening with every reminder of how much Vanessa was trying to endure. Why can't she just let me help her? Astra thought, frustration simmering beneath her concern. She knew Vanessa's stubbornness all too well, it was one of the things she admired most about her, but in moments like this, it made her feel helpless.

Astra couldn't stop replaying the evening's events in her mind: the way Vanessa had shielded her, the brutal punches from Ben, and the sight of her crumpling to the ground. Her fingers clenched slightly against Vanessa's shoulder as anger flickered through her, directed not just at Ben but also at Vanessa for refusing to go to the hospital. She knows something's wrong, just like I do. Why does she always have to act like she can handle everything alone?

Her thoughts were interrupted when her gaze drifted to the bandage she had carefully applied to the reopened wound. A dark, red stain was spreading across the fabric. Astra's stomach dropped. The wound hadn't stopped bleeding. It must have reopened when Vanessa moved earlier. Without thinking, Astra reached out, her hand hovering over the bandage before she gently pressed her fingers against the top edge, as if trying to assess the damage without causing Vanessa pain.

Vanessa's reaction was instant and visceral. Her honey-brown eyes flew open, wide with a mix of pain and fear, and she instinctively jerked away, her body twisting as she clutched her side. "Cazzo...!" she screamed sharply, her voice strained. She sat up abruptly, her face contorting as she winced, her hand flying to the bandage to protect herself.

"Vanessa!" Astra said quickly, her voice firm but soothing. She moved closer, her hands hovering just inches away as she tried to steady Vanessa without making her panic more. "It's okay. It's fine. You're safe. Nothing happened."

Vanessa's breathing was shallow and rapid, her chest rising and falling as she tried to process the sudden jolt of pain. Her hand pressed firmly against her side, and her honey-brown eyes darted to Astra, searching her face for reassurance. "What... what were you doing?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly, laced with both pain and confusion.

"I was just checking the bandage," Astra explained softly, her emerald-green eyes filled with concern. She slowly reached out, placing her hand gently over Vanessa's, which was still gripping her side. "It looked like it was bleeding again. I didn't mean to wake you or hurt you, I'm sorry."

Vanessa exhaled shakily, her fingers relaxing slightly under Astra's touch. "It's okay," she murmured, her voice quieter now, though the tension hadn't completely left her body. She let her head fall back against the pillows, her hand still resting on the bandage.

For a moment, they sat in silence, the weight of the moment hanging heavily between them. Astra stayed close, her hand never leaving Vanessa's, as if her touch alone could keep her grounded.

Vanessa glanced down at her side and finally noticed the blood seeping through the bandage. Her brows furrowed, and her jaw tightened slightly. "It's worse than I thought," she muttered, her voice tinged with frustration. "It must've opened again when I moved."

Astra's heart ached at Vanessa's quiet admission, the vulnerability in her voice cutting deeper than she expected. "Van," Astra began, her voice soft but firm. "This is why I wanted you to stay still. You're pushing yourself too hard, and your body's not ready for it."