The Awakening
On the third morning, when Luna leaned closer and begged one more time, Nick's fingers twitched and his lips parted weakly.
"…Luna?"
Her heart stopped for a second. Then tears flooded her cheeks as she clutched his hand tighter. "Nick! Nick, it's me! You're alive, you're awake!"
The doctor hurried in, checking his pulse. "He's conscious. Weak, but conscious. Keep him calm."
Nick's eyes barely opened, his gaze trying to focus. His lips trembled as he whispered, "Don't… cry."
Luna broke down completely, sobbing against his arm. Relief crashed over her like a wave. "You idiot… you scared me so much. Don't ever do that again."
Alex, standing by the wall, finally let out a shaky laugh, his own eyes glassy. "Well, look who finally decided to stop being lazy."
Nick gave the faintest smile before drifting back into a light, healing sleep. The doctor assured them it was normal—that his body needed rest.
The Kiss
When the doctor left, silence returned, but it wasn't the dreadful silence of before. It was a silence filled with hope.
Luna wiped her tears, her shoulders trembling. "He's alive, Alex… he's alive…"
Alex nodded, watching her. "I told you. He just needed you."
She turned to him, her face streaked with tears but glowing with relief. Without thinking, she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Alex stiffened at first, then slowly wrapped his arms around her.
For a long moment, they stayed like that—two broken souls holding each other after days of fear. Luna pulled back slightly, her eyes meeting his. Something unspoken passed between them—gratitude, affection, and something deeper.
Her voice was barely a whisper. "Thank you… for staying with me, Alex. For everything."
Alex's hand brushed away her tears. His heart was pounding. "I couldn't… I couldn't leave you, Luna. Not when you needed me most."
Their faces were close, their breaths mingling. The storm of emotions—the fear of losing Nick, the relief of saving him, the nights of holding on together—exploded in that fragile moment.
Before either of them could stop themselves, Luna leaned forward. Alex met her halfway. Their lips touched softly at first, hesitant… then deeper, lingering, full of all the words they hadn't said.
It wasn't just a kiss of love—it was a kiss of survival, of finding comfort in each other when the world felt like it was falling apart.
When they finally pulled away, Luna's cheeks flushed. She looked down, her fingers still clutching his shirt. Alex let out a nervous laugh. "Guess fear makes people… brave."
Luna smiled faintly through her tears. "Or maybe… it just shows who really matters."
Behind them, Nick stirred faintly in his sleep, unaware of the fragile new thread forming between his two closest people.
And so, Part 19 ended not only with Nick's eyes opening… but also with a kiss that could change everything.