boundaries [s.m]

chapter forty-three

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she was dressed fully in black.

her composure held something of regret, something of remorse, something of guilt. she didn't really know how to present herself, nor how to physically act. all she knew was that she had to go to the hospital to take shawn home. she just didn't know what would happen after.

"hi, i'm here for shawn mendes?" she asks the receptionist, who responds with a warm smile. the blonde types a few things away, before handing aria a clipboard and pen.

"just get him to sign these, drop them back off here, and he's free to go," the receptionist guides.

"okay, thank you," aria responds, taking the paperwork and pen, before venturing off to shawns room that she's become too familiar with in the last month.

she reaches the pale wooden door, and stands outside the heavy stature for a few moments. behind the door was the man who broke her heart; perfectly able to walk on his own, cook on his own, fend for himself; he was perfectly fine again. shakily, aria brings her fingers up to the door, tapping lightly at it with her knuckles, and placing her hand on the handle, before pushing open the door, seeing shawn lying down, his figure upright, as he flicks through a book.

"oh, hey," shawn snaps his head up to the doorway, shocked that aria is here. aria shuffled inside, closing the door behind her gently, and walking over to his bedside, taking a seat in the leather chair. "can i go?"

"yeah, after you fill these in," she says, handing him the paperwork. "how are you feeling?"

"my head sort of hurts, and my back is aching, but it's okay, i have pills for that," he jokes, trailing his eyes to all the orange bottles lined up on the table beside him. aria pushes out a small laugh, a tiny smile lining her lips. "how long did they say i'll be on bed rest for?"

"three weeks, shawn," aria frowns gently, looking at shawn solemnly, as he sighs, nodding and looking down at his lap. "it's okay, we'll cause some trouble while you're on bed rest." shawn finds himself smiling a slightly guilty smile, and letting out an uncomfortable laugh. how can she still support me after what i did to her? he thinks to himself, not really knowing what else to say in response.

"aria?" shawn pesters gently, looking at the girl who's hurting more than he probably is, but she's also hiding it better than he is.

"hmm?" she hums, looking up at him, their eyes connecting immediately.

"i'm sorry," he whispers. "i'm so sorry."

"don't apologise, you were in a weird situation. honestly, if it was someone who looked like you in that video, i probably would've snapped even more than you did," she admits quickly, not exactly telling the truth, but wanting nothing more than to fix this patch they are in. she looks down at the sheets of the hospital bed, furrowing her eyebrow. "shawn?"