I swallowed.
The room felt smaller.
Hotter.
Or maybe it was just my skin.
"Alex…"
"Don't." His voice cracked once barely, but enough. "Don't say my name like that right now. I'm already…."
He looked down at his own hands.
"I'm already holding too much."
My heartbeat stuttered in my chest.
He stayed with me while the doctor worked stayed even after the IV was placed, after the fever meds were given, after my eyelids began to droop again.
When the doctor finally left for good, Alex exhaled and pressed a hand over his face like he'd been holding himself together with tape.
"How long was I asleep?" I asked.
He dropped his hand, looking at me again. "Seventeen hours."
Seventeen.
"Jesus," I breathed.
" I'm kidding, six hours."
"Why didn't you rest too?" I said eyeing him suspiciously.
"I did."
"Liar."
He didn't deny it.
A crack of thunder rattled the windows. I flinched. The movement tugged at my bruises and I winced, trying to hide it, but Alex saw.
