Zayn's POV
I followed them closely as they wheeled her down the hallway, every beep of the monitor beside her hitting me like a blow. I didn't even notice I was holding my breath until they turned toward one of the private wards.
Once inside, the nurses moved quickly-checking vitals, connecting her to monitors, adjusting her oxygen. I stood there, helpless, my hands still shaking from carrying her.
After a few minutes, the nurses left, whispering to each other as they closed the door gently behind them.
I pulled a chair close and sat beside her, watching her chest rise and fall with the help of the oxygen mask.
This wasn't just exhaustion or stress. This was something serious.
And the worst part? She had been walking around like this. Smiling. Pretending. Carrying pain on her own while I-
I clenched my jaw, pushing my fingers through my hair.
Why didn't I see it sooner? Why didn't I ask more?
I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, eyes locked on her face.
"You scared me, Y/N," I whispered. "You really scared me."
And as much as I wanted answers, I just prayed she'd open her eyes again... so I could tell her I'm here. And this time, I'm not going anywhere.
I followed them closely as they wheeled her down the hallway, every beep of the monitor beside her hitting me like a blow. I didn't even notice I was holding my breath until they turned toward one of the private wards.
Once inside, the nurses moved quickly-checking vitals, connecting her to monitors, adjusting her oxygen. I stood there, helpless, my hands still shaking from carrying her.
She looked so small on that hospital bed. So... fragile.
After a few minutes, the nurses left, whispering to each other as they closed the door gently behind them.
I pulled a chair close and sat beside her, watching her chest rise and fall with the help of the oxygen mask.
This wasn't just exhaustion or stress. This was something serious.
And the worst part? She had been walking around like this. Smiling. Pretending. Carrying pain on her own while I-
I clenched my jaw, pushing my fingers through my hair.
Why didn't I see it sooner? Why didn't I ask more?
I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, eyes locked on her face.
"You scared me, Y/N," I whispered. "You really scared me."
And as much as I wanted answers, I just prayed she'd open her eyes again... so I could tell her I'm here. And this time, I'm not going anywhere.
My heart was beating so fast like it was about to burst I saw her after ages and how she ended up, it's.... it feels like I am breathing broken glasses so hard to go down cutting my throat down.
Y/N's POV
Something felt heavy.
Not just my chest-everything. My arms, my legs... even my breathing. It was like the air didn't want to reach my lungs.
I opened my eyes slowly, everything was a blur. The ceiling lights above me were dim, but they still stung my eyes. I blinked, trying to adjust.
Where... am I?
The room was quiet. Too quiet. Except for the soft beep... beep... of some machine near my ear. I turned my head a little, dizzy as hell. The walls... that dull color again. The same shade that reminded me of Sylus. That coldness. That emptiness.
Then I saw him.
Zayn.
He was sitting right next to me, his head tilted to the side, fast asleep on the edge of the chair. One hand rested near mine-so close it brushed my fingers every time I moved. His brows were slightly furrowed, like even in sleep he was worrying.
Why is he here...?
I thought I imagined it.
But no-he was real.
My chest felt tight again. Not just because of the disease, but because of everything. Sylus... that fight... the curse he threw at me like it meant nothing... and now Zayn... just sitting there like I was someone worth worrying about.
I tried to move, but the dizziness was too much. My throat felt dry.
Still, my eyes stayed on him.
He looked tired. And warm. And safe.
Even in the mess I had become.
I didn't call his name. I didn't want to wake him.
But somewhere inside, I whispered to myself:
"Please... don't leave."
Because right now, he was the only thing that didn't feel like it was slipping away.
I am so scared I don't know what is going on I don't wanna die unloved pathetic like this especially but look at me miserably laying here like a lifeless body. I can't even keep my eyes open besides me there is a person whom I meet after so many years worrying about me but....but somehow I want those red eyes near me staring at me hugged me and love.
How pathetic I am. I am ashamed.
Zayn's POV:
The first thing I felt when I woke up was the ache in my neck. Sleeping on a hospital chair wasn't exactly kind. I rubbed the back of it, eyes still groggy, and turned my head toward the bed.
And then I froze.
She was awake.
Y/N... her eyes were open, quietly staring at the window like she wasn't fully here yet. The soft morning light slipped in through the curtains, touching her face gently like it was scared it'd hurt her too.
"Hey..." I said, my voice low and careful, like if I was too loud she'd disappear again.
She slowly turned her head toward me. Her eyes looked tired, but alive.
"You're awake," I breathed, a small, relieved smile tugging at my lips.
She blinked a few times, like she was making sure I was real. Then gave me the faintest nod. "Yeah... I think."
Her voice was hoarse. Weak. But she was here.
"Do you... remember anything?" I asked gently, leaning forward, searching her face for pain or confusion.
She looked at me for a moment. "Bits of it. The coffee shop... Sylus yelling... then nothing."
I didn't know how to tell her about the report. About what her heart had been hiding from her. So instead, I just smiled softly and said, "You scared the hell out of me, you know that?"
She chuckled lightly, but even that sounded fragile. "Sorry... not really my best dramatic entrance."
God, she was still joking. Still trying to make it easier for everyone else.
I leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair away from her forehead. "You don't have to act strong right now," I whispered. "Just be here. That's enough."
She looked at me again, softer this time. And in her silence, I could feel everything she wasn't saying.
And I stayed there. Right beside her.
Because no matter what was coming... I wasn't leaving.
I wanted to tell her no matter what happens she don't have to be strong near me i wanted to tell her I love her i love her like I am breathing how am I suppose to tell her that I am grateful she exist near me.
I stood up slowly, still a little stiff from the chair, but I didn't want to leave her side for too long. She was awake now, but she looked so fragile, like the wind could blow her away.
"I'll go get you some breakfast, okay?" I said softly, brushing her hand gently. "Something light. You need energy."
She gave a small nod, barely moving her head. That look in her eyes-it still worried me.
I stepped out of the room and headed straight to the cafeteria. I kept it simple: porridge, toast, a little fruit, and chamomile tea. Nothing too heavy. She needed comfort.
After dropping it off by her bedside quietly-she'd dozed off again-I made my way to the hospital lab. The results were supposed to be in today.
As soon as I entered, the technician recognized me. "Dr. Zayn. The cardiac test results for Y/N-they just came in."
I took the envelope with slightly shaky hands, heart pounding. I walked into an empty side office, shut the door, and opened it.
There it was. My eyes scanned through medical jargon I'd seen a thousand times before... but never like this.
Congestive Cardiomyopathy.
Stage 2.
Rare form. Progressive.
My chest tightened.
I sat down slowly, the paper still in my hands. Stage 2 meant her heart was already weakening. Her fainting, the shortness of breath, the way she shivered-it all made sense now.
I leaned back in the chair, staring at the report like it was mocking me.
Why didn't she say anything sooner?
Why didn't anyone catch it?
I closed my eyes for a second, trying to steady my breath. She had no idea.
And I...
I had no idea how to tell her.
I feel like someone choked me I wanted to blame someone for this to make me feel light I was never this devastated but now I wanted to blame all our problems to someone....sylus how could he left her after snatching how dare him to curse her....I don't believe in curse but now I blame him.....for everything from which my y/n is suffering.
I stood at the door for a second, holding the report like it was some kind of curse sealed in paper. I didn't want to walk in. I didn't want to look into her eyes and carry this truth between us. But I had to.
She deserved to know. Even if I wished with everything in me that it wasn't true.
I pushed open the door slowly.
She was sitting up now, her back resting against the pillows. The morning light spilled through the window, brushing across her hair. She looked at me and smiled gently-so unaware of the storm I was holding behind my eyes.
I stepped in, quiet, my steps careful. Like I might shatter something if I wasn't.
"Hey," I said, my voice low. I tried to keep my face steady, but I could feel how strained my features were.
She tilted her head, sensing something. "You okay?" she asked softly.
I looked at her for a moment before answering. Not really.
But I nodded. "Yeah. Just... a lot on my mind."
I sat beside her, close, but not too close. I didn't want to scare her. I didn't want her to read the panic I had shoved deep down.
I took a quiet breath.
There was no easy way to say it. No gentle words that could cushion the weight of what I had to share. But before I could open my mouth, she touched my hand, just lightly, and smiled again.
And that broke something in me.
I looked away for a second, blinking fast, then back at her. "Y/n... we got your reports."
Her smile faded, slowly.
I tried to find the words. But I couldn't. Not yet.
So I just sat there. Holding her hand. Letting silence speak for me until I found the strength.
I couldn't hold it in anymore. The words crawled up my throat like they'd been scraping the inside of me the whole time.
"You have a rare form of heart disease... Stage 2," I finally said, my voice almost breaking at the end.
There. I said it. But I hated every syllable.
She looked at me.
For a second, I thought she didn't hear me. Or maybe she didn't understand. But then-she smiled. A soft, quiet smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Tears welled in them slowly, gently, like she had accepted this long before I had.
She didn't cry out. Didn't fall apart.
She just nodded once, eyes glimmering. "Okay," she whispered.
That one word crushed me more than any outburst would have.
Her fingers trembled slightly over the blanket, so I held them, gently. She didn't pull away.
"I'll do everything I can," I said, my voice thick, "We'll fight this. Together."
She looked at me again, and this time her smile wavered. A tear slipped down her cheek.
"You always say the kindest things, Zayn..." she said softly, like a secret she was trying to keep safe.
I didn't know whether to feel heartbroken or honored by that.
So I just held her hand tighter, and stayed with her. Because even if I couldn't fix her heart right away... I could stay. And that was something.
To be continued.....