When I awoke, the first thing I noticed was that my chest felt weird. It was sore, but there was a weight lifted off it.
I blinked, my eyes looking around the room. The walls were all white, and the only colour in the room was the dark blue curtains on either side of the window and the small potted plant on the table next to me. I was alone in the room.
My throat felt drier than the desert. Thankfully there was a cup of water on the end table and I happily gulped it down. When I set the empty plastic cup down, I looked up into a set of familiar brown eyes.
"Hey, baby, how you feeling?" Taehyung sat on the edge of the bed, laying a hand on my sheet-covered leg.
"Okay. Chest feels weird." My voice was a bit rough from disuse, and I cleared my throat.
Taehyung hummed. "Is it okay if Jin and Namjoon hyung come in? They really wanna see you." I nodded, and Taehyung stood up. "I'll send them in. Then we'll let you rest for a bit, okay?" Before leaving he pressed a soft kiss to my lips and smiled.
I was alone for a moment before I heard the door open again. "My baby!" wailed Jin, and immediately pulled me into a hug.
"A-ah, hyung." I mumbled weakly, and Namjoon pulled Jin off of me.
"Oh, shit, I'm sorry Jungkookie!" exclaimed Jin, looking horrified.
I giggled softly. "It's okay, Jin hyung. You just grabbed me a bit tight."
Namjoon brushed hair off my forehead. "You doing okay?" I nodded, and he smiled gently, his dimples appearing. "I remember my surgery. Jin was a nervous wreck. I just wanted to get it over with," he laughed.
I smiled weakly, my eyes fighting to stay open. Jin noticed this and patted Namjoon on the arm. "Okay, we'll let you rest up. See you later, Jungkookie."
_
A few hours later, I was free to leave and Taehyung was helping me get ready. "Here," he said as he gently guided my arm into a sweater sleeve.
"Thank you," I kissed his cheek when I was finally all changed. Taehyung rested his forehead against mine, hands resting on my waist.
"I'm so proud of you, you know," he murmured in that deep voice I loved. "You've come so far to be comfortable in your own skin. I love you so much."
I leaned forward and pressed our lips together. "I love you too. Thank you for all you've done for me."
There was a tap at the door, and we broke apart. I turned to see a short male standing in the doorway holding a clipboard, dressed in a nurse's uniform. "Hey, sorry to ruin the moment, but we need you to come sign these papers."
Taehyung nodded, grasping my hand. "Thanks, Yoongi hyung. We'll be right out."
Yoongi nodded and disappeared, leaving us alone again. Taehyung grinned at me. "Ready?"
I nodded firmly, mirroring his smile. "Ready."
-fin-
