Keifer POV
Night arrived without asking.
The hospital room dimmed slowly, like it was learning how to breathe again. The TV was off now. Section E had been chased out one by one, all dramatic groans and fake promises to come back tomorrow. Victor left last, teasing me about getting "romantic hospital service," until Mom shoved him toward the door.
Then even she left, after making sure my blanket was straight and Jay wasn't trying to move too much.
And suddenly… quiet.
Not the scary kind.
The kind that settles.
Jay lay on her bed facing the window, moonlight brushing the side of her face. Her injured leg was propped carefully, bandages neat, too neat for someone who hated being still. She was awake. I could tell by the way her fingers moved slightly, tracing the edge of the blanket.
"You're not asleep," I said softly.
She smiled without looking at me. "Neither are you."
I shifted a little, the movement tugging at my ribs. "Hard to sleep when your brain won't shut up."
She finally turned her head toward me. Her eyes looked tired, but clear. Too clear. Like she'd been thinking for a while.
"Do you remember," she asked, "what you said before everything went bad?"
I frowned. "I said a lot of things."
Jay hummed. "You said you'd drive faster if I stopped distracting you."
"That sounds like you," I replied.
She laughed quietly, then winced. "Worth it."
Silence returned, but this time it wasn't empty.
"I thought I was going to lose you," she said suddenly.
The words didn't shake. That scared me more.
I stared at the ceiling. "I wasn't planning on going anywhere."
"That's not how it works," she said. "Things don't ask permission."
I swallowed. "You still stayed."
Jay shrugged carefully. "I don't run."
I turned my head to look at her. "You don't even limp away."
She smiled at that, but it faded quickly.
"Keifer," she said, quieter now. "When we were in the car… before the crash… I was scared."
I waited.
"Not of the chase," she continued. "Of how normal it felt. Laughing. Teasing. Like the world wasn't about to tear itself open."
My chest tightened.
"I liked that normal," she admitted. "Too much."
I exhaled slowly. "Me too."
She studied my face like she was memorizing it. "What happens after this?"
"After we get discharged?" I asked.
She nodded.
"I don't know," I said honestly. "But I know I don't want things to go back to pretending."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "Pretending what?"
"That we're just… passing through each other's lives," I said. "Like this was temporary."
Her gaze softened, but there was something careful in it too. Guarded.
"You're dangerous when you talk like that," she murmured.
I smiled faintly. "You didn't stop me."
She looked away again, toward the window. "I didn't say I wanted you to."
Another quiet stretch.
Somewhere down the hall, a cart rolled. A nurse laughed softly. Life kept going.
"Keifer," Jay said, almost hesitant. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For shielding me," she said. "Even when you could barely stand."
I shrugged. "Instinct."
She shook her head. "Choice."
The room grew quiet again, but this time it was lighter. Warmer.
Jay yawned. "Okay… now I might actually sleep."
"Good," I said. "Doctor's orders."
She closed her eyes, then opened them again just a little. "Keifer?"
"Yeah?"
"Next time we laugh like this… let's not almost die after."
I smiled softly. "Deal."
Her breathing evened out slowly, sleep finally winning.
I leaned back, listening to the quiet.
For the first time in a while, it didn't feel fragile. The room grew quiet again, but this time it was lighter. Warmer.
Jay yawned. "Okay… now I might actually sleep."
"Good," I said. "Doctor's orders."
She closed her eyes, then opened them again just a little. "Keifer?"
"Yeah?"
"Next time we laugh like this… let's not almost die after."
I smiled softly. "Deal."
Her breathing evened out slowly, sleep finally winning.
I leaned back, listening to the quiet.
For the first time in a while, it didn't feel fragile.