The weekend had been warm, full of laughter and the subtle chaos that comes from a family gathered together. Sorren had followed me, tail wagging excitedly, sniffing every corner of my parents' home like it had never been there before. My mother fussed over him as much as she did over me, fussing at my hair, reminding me to eat more, teasing me like I was still a child.
My sister, ever the mischief-maker, rolled her eyes at me whenever I stumbled over words, while my brother threw in quiet jokes that made me laugh despite myself. It was cozy, it was real, and it grounded me in a world I sometimes forgot existed outside of Anurak's presence.
But even in the midst of warmth, my heart drifted elsewhere. I thought of him, of the soft mornings under the Bodhi tree, of the way he looked at me — eyes deep with centuries of longing, hands steady and protective.
The weekend ended too quickly. Early the next morning, I returned to my apartment, Sorren padding happily beside me, ears alert to every sound. I barely unpacked before collapsing onto the sofa, the city outside still waking.
Then the phone rang.
Not the usual evening call. Not a message with the routine smiley faces and whispers. The number on the screen made my chest tighten instantly. I answered before I could think.
"Kael…" His voice was broken, trembling, small.
I froze. "Anurak? What is it?" My hand gripped Sorren's leash so tightly that I could feel the tension in my fingers.
There was silence for a moment. Then a choked sob. "Mama… she… she had an accident… the hospital… it's…"
The words didn't fully register at first. My mind jumped, images flashing: sterile hallways, the beeping of machines, her lying there. Sorren nudged my hand, sensing my sudden fear.
"Anurak… I'll come," I said immediately, voice cracking. "Tell me where… I'll take the first train. I'll be there."
A long pause, then a small, desperate whisper: "Can you… please… come?"
"I'm leaving now," I said, grabbing my bag, Sorren barking softly as if urging me on. "I'm coming."
The train ride was a blur. Two hours of blank, frozen silence. I didn't think, didn't speak — my body moved on autopilot, Sorren beside me, ears twitching, tail brushing against my leg. My mind replayed Anurak's voice, the panic, the tears I could almost see on his face.
When I reached Granny's home, I didn't stop to breathe. I pushed open the door, Sorren darting inside ahead of me. Granny looked up in surprise, concern immediately etched into her features.
"Kael? What—"
I handed Sorren to her, keeping my eyes on the ground for a moment. "Granny… it's Anurak. His mama… she's in the hospital… it was an accident. He… he called me, and I need to go to him."
Granny's face paled the moment I finished speaking, the worry and fear that had always lingered behind her calm eyes surfacing fully. Her hand went to my shoulder, squeezing gently.
"Kael… oh, my child…" she whispered, voice trembling just slightly. "Go… you need to be there. You're the one he trusts. Sorren will be fine here with me."
I nodded quickly, swallowing the lump in my throat. Granny pulled me into a brief, tight hug, and for a moment I let myself feel her warmth — grounding me just enough to take the next step.
"I… I have to go, Granny. He's all alone right now." My voice cracked, my chest tight with urgency.
She brushed my hair back from my face, her eyes glimmering. "Go… and bring him back to peace, my child. Be the anchor he needs."
I barely waited, sprinting down the steps. Every heartbeat pounded with fear and anticipation. The journey blurred — the world outside the train windows became a gray smear of passing fields. My mind kept replaying Anurak's voice: small, broken, desperate.
---
When I finally arrived at the hospital, the scent of antiseptic hit me like a wall. I spotted Anurak immediately — or rather, his posture gave him away before I even reached the doors. He was slumped near the reception, shoulders shaking with uncontrollable sobs.
I froze for a second, feeling a sharp twist in my chest. Seeing him like this — usually composed, always in control — utterly undone… it tore something open inside me.
"Anurak…" I called softly.
His head snapped up, eyes wide, glassy. Recognition sparked, but it was shadowed by raw panic. "Kael…" His voice cracked, almost a whisper, but it carried all the fear and helplessness I had been dreading.He came running towards me..i hugged him without any words
"She… she's all I have," he choked out, sobs shaking his frame. "What… what do I do without her?"
I hugged him tight, my hand brushing his back, grounding him in the present. " It's gonna be ok..nothing gonna happen to her, and you're not alone. Look at me."
He finally lifted his eyes to mine, and I could see the depth of terror and love tangled in his gaze. His hands shook as they reached for me almost instinctively. I held him firmly, letting him lean into me, letting him sob against my chest.
"It's okay… it's going to be alright," I whispered, voice low, steady. "You're not alone. I'm here. We'll face this together."
He clutched me tighter, resting his head against my shoulder, letting the tears fall freely. "Kael… I don't know what to do… what if…"
"You don't have to know yet," I interrupted softly, tightening my hold. "Just breathe. Right now, just breathe. I'm not going anywhere."
For the first time in what felt like hours — or lifetimes — he allowed himself to lean fully into me, his trembling body letting go of the desperate, panicked weight he had been carrying.
The world outside faded: no beeping machines, no hurried nurses, no glaring lights. Only the two of us, caught in the rawness of fear, love, and the desperate need to hold each other steady against the uncertainty ahead.
And in that moment, I silently vowed to stay — to be his anchor, his refuge, his constant — no matter what came next.