Stay

Day 1, no movement. I sat by Sebastian’s bed, watching him sleep, hoping for any sign that he might stir. The room was quiet, save for the sound of his soft breathing, and though the doctors assured me he was stable, it did little to ease my worries. I had grown used to the quiet hum of the machines that monitored his vitals, but the silence between us was deafening. I stayed by his side, sitting in the chair next to his bed, and eventually dozed off, only to wake up and find him still unmoved.

Day 2, day 3, day 4—still no response. I would come and go, always finding myself back in the same chair. My own body was starting to wear from the lack of proper sleep. My thoughts swirled with guilt and worry, thinking back to all the ways Sebastian had treated me recently, but despite everything, I couldn’t tear myself away from him.

By day 5, his hand moved slightly. Just a twitch, but enough to give me hope. I grabbed his hand, squeezing it gently, willing him to wake up, but his eyes remained closed. The movement didn’t repeat, and once again, I was left waiting. The days blurred together. Sometimes, I spoke to him, whispering softly, unsure if he could hear me. I talked about random things—how the compound was quieter without him, how the girls were worried, and even how I missed the old him.

Day 12 came, and still, Sebastian lay unconscious. I was beginning to lose hope, though I couldn’t show it. Each day dragged on longer than the last, and my visits to his room had become routine, as though I were performing a duty. I no longer believed that today would be the day he would wake up, but still, I stayed. Today marked the 13th day. The sun was high in the sky as I entered his room that afternoon, expecting nothing different. I moved to my usual spot by his bed, ready to sit in silence once again.

But then, at exactly 12:05, I heard a raspy voice. "Where am I?"

My heart nearly stopped. I froze, wide-eyed, trying to process what I had just heard. Slowly, I turned toward the bed. Sebastian’s eyes were open—blinking, confused, but very much awake.

"Sebastian?" I whispered, disbelief coursing through me. "You’re awake?"

He looked at me, still dazed, and repeated, "Where am I?"

I shot up from my seat, emotions swirling inside me—a whirlwind of joy, shock, and worry all at once. I wanted to hug him, to cry, to do something, but instead, I just stood there, staring at him. "You’re in the compound...you had an accident," I said, my voice trembling. "How do you feel?"

Sebastian blinked a few times, processing my words, and slowly turned his head to look around the room. His gaze was sharp but tired, as though he were trying to piece together fragments of a dream. "I...feel fine," he muttered, though the exhaustion in his voice betrayed him.

I felt a lump form in my throat as a mix of relief and concern washed over me. I wanted to cry, but then I remembered—**he’s still my boss.** I needed to keep myself in check.

"I’m...I’m sorry," I stammered, stepping back from the bed, trying to regain my composure. "I was just here to take care of you. I should go, I’ll...I’ll call the doctor." My words came out rushed and clumsy, and I backed toward the door, my pulse racing. "I’ll go get Raven. I’ll get the doctor."

I ran out of the room before he could respond, my heart pounding in my chest. I practically flew down the hallway, searching for Raven and the doctor. When I found them near the main quarters, I blurted out the news before I could even catch my breath.

"He’s awake!" I shouted, unable to contain my excitement.

Raven’s eyes widened, and the doctor immediately snapped to attention. "Are you sure?" Raven asked.

"Yes!" I nodded frantically. "He’s awake! Come quick!"

Without wasting any time, Raven and the doctor rushed after me, heading straight back to Sebastian’s room. The doctor quickly began checking his vitals while Raven stood by his side, her usual cold demeanor softening as she gave him a quick hug. "You gave us all quite a scare," Raven said softly, stepping back to give the doctor more space.

After the doctor confirmed that Sebastian was stable, I found myself lingering in the room, unable to look away from him. The doctor and Raven left soon after, leaving just the two of us alone. His gaze turned to me, and it was cold, unreadable—just like before. It made me feel out of place, like I didn’t belong there.

"I’m sorry," I said quickly, breaking the silence. "I shouldn’t be here. I’ll...I’ll leave now. I just wanted to ask what you’d like to eat so I can tell them to prepare it for you."

I turned toward the door, my hand on the knob, ready to leave when suddenly, I heard him speak again.

"Stay."
…..

My heart skipped a beat. **Stay?** Did he really say that?

……

I slowly turned around, hardly daring to believe it. His gaze had softened—his cold expression now replaced with something gentler, something warmer.

"Yes, I said stay," he repeated, his voice still hoarse from being unconscious for so long.

I could hardly breathe. My pulse quickened, and my mind raced as I tried to understand what had just happened. **Did he really ask me to stay?**

I hesitated, unsure of what to do, but the way he looked at me—calm, almost welcoming—was completely unexpected. It was unlike anything I had seen from him before.

I walked back toward his bedside, my legs feeling weak beneath me. I sat down slowly, my heart still pounding, unsure of what to say. The tension in the room hung heavy, but it was different now. There was something softer, something almost tender in the air.

I sat there, next to him, stunned and overwhelmed by the shift in the dynamic between us. For the first time, he wasn’t pushing me away, wasn’t dismissing me like before.

That single word—**stay**—meant more to me than he could ever know.

I stayed, sitting beside him, barely able to process the moment, but feeling, for the first time in a long while, that something between us had changed.