ORION.
Sabastian's eyes drifted toward his son, his voice tinged with a mix of nostalgia and regret. "His mom and I...we were a one-time thing, you know?" He gestured toward Harro's still form, and I turned to gaze at my boyfriend, my concern for him simmering just below the surface.
We stood vigil in the hospital's VIP room, the soft beeps of machines and the faint scent of antiseptic filling the air. Harro had spent a long, terrifying night in the ICU, but thankfully, he was now stable, and Sabastian was able to catch some rest, thanks to the steady drip of medication.
My curiosity got the better of me, and I spoke up, my voice low. "I read you were twice her age," I said, referencing the background check I'd done on Harro. Sabastian's eyes crinkled at the corners as he chuckled quietly.
"Don't believe everything you read, son. I was just thirty-five years old." I nodded, doing the math in my head. A ten-year age gap, then. The revelation sparked a flurry of questions, but I kept them to myself, not wanting to pry.
Sabastian's voice dropped low, his eyes clouding over with memories. "I came from a long line of family with shitty parents, and I was alone all my life because of that. I told myself that my family line would end with me and that I wouldn't subject another child to the hell I endured. I didn't want to risk passing on the toxic legacy, you know?" His words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of his past. I nodded, understanding the pain that drove him to make such a vow. My own father's actions had led me down a similar path of doubt and fear.
Sabastian's gaze drifted, lost in thought. "I'd made peace with the idea of dying alone, of ending my family line. It didn't seem so bad, actually." A wry chuckle escaped his lips, a hint of irony dancing in his eyes. "And then, fate intervened. I boarded a plane to Germany, my first time flying commercial, and I met her – a young woman with striking white hair, sitting in first class, terrified of flying. Can you believe the odds?" He shook his head, a soft smile spreading across his face.
"She was returning home after a work trip, and I remember thinking she must be a model or an actress, she was that stunning, that young." His eyes took on a faraway look, and I couldn't help but smile, caught up in the romance of the moment. Sabastian's eyes sparkled with warmth as he reminisced.
"We started talking because I offered to hold her hand during takeoff, and I shared my story with her – the highs and lows, the triumphs and struggles. And she, in turn, shared hers – a brilliant mathematics professor at just twenty-five years old. Can you believe that?" He smiled, still in awe of the remarkable woman who'd captured his heart. "I thought she was the most impressive young woman I'd ever met – intelligent, beautiful, and radiant with life."
Sabastian's voice dropped to a whisper, his eyes gazing into the past. "When the plane landed, we said our goodbyes, and she thanked me for holding her hand through the flight. We went our separate ways, like two ships passing in the night...but fate, it seemed, had other plans. Three days later, I was speaking at a conference for young entrepreneurs, and there she was – stunning, elegant, and full of life, just as she'd been when we parted ways at the airport." A fond smile spread across Sabastian's face, his eyes twinkling with memories.
He chuckled a low, husky sound. "Back then, I thought, well...this must be fate or life's twisted sense of humor because, let's face it, I used to be high about eighty percent of the time." His laughter was infectious, and I found myself grinning, imagining a younger, more carefree Sabastian.
Sabastian cleared his throat, his eyes gazing into the past. "We spoke for a while at the conference, and the rest...well, it's history. We took the conversation back to my hotel room, and one thing led to another. We slept together, and I was on a plane back to Canada the very next morning. That was the last time we saw or heard from each other, despite her having my email and home address." His words hung in the air, a mix of regret and longing.
I asked surprise etched on my face, "You never wrote to each other, not even once?" Sabastian shook his head, a faint hint of sadness in his eyes.
"And then, almost ten months later, I received an email, asking me to come and raise my son with his grandmother. It turned out her last wish was for me to be actively involved in our son's life since she'd given him life, and the least I could do was change my mind about not wanting kids." A glint sparkled in Sabastian's eyes, and I couldn't help but laugh, despite the sadness that still lingered.
"Now I know where Harro got his sass and confidence from," I said, glancing at my boyfriend's unconscious form. "His mom was one heck of a woman!" Sabastian chuckled, a warm smile spreading across his face. "I think he also got his mother's sense of humor and audacity," I added.
Sabastian's smile faltered as he gazed at Harro, his eyes welling up with emotion. "He got more than that from her," he said, his voice trembling. "He got her brain, her beauty, kindness, hair...and I could name more, but honestly, I'd say everything. My boy is the best thing that has ever happened to me." The words spilled from his lips like a prayer, a heartfelt declaration of love and devotion.
I wrapped my hands around Sabastian's, offering a reassuring squeeze. "He's going to be fine, Sabastian. He's strong and resilient; you know that." Sabastian's smile was tinged with sadness, his eyes still heavy with exhaustion, the effects of the medication evident. I encouraged him to rest some more, tucking a soft duvet around him on the plush couch in the VIP hospital room.
My bodyguard had thoughtfully brought me a few essentials the night before, allowing me to stay by Harro's side. As I glanced at Harro, my heart swelled with love and concern. I still hadn't returned my father's calls and messages, and I knew I wouldn't be able to speak to him civilly, not yet.
Leaning in, I whispered softly to Harro's unconscious ears, "Hi, baby, I'm just going to step out for a moment, okay? I'll be right back." With one last glance, I stepped out of the VIP hospital room, heading toward the nurse's station. The nurse had asked me to fill out some forms earlier, and I wanted to take care of that while Sabastian rested.
A gentle voice interrupted my thoughts as I made my way to the nurse station, "Sorry, are you visiting a family member or a friend?" I assumed it was the nurse speaking to someone, her tone warm and compassionate.
And I heard Athena's familiar voice tremble as she replied, "He's my best friend and the patient...he's also my friend. Sorry, what I'm trying to say is...they're my family." Her words were laced with desperation, and I quickened my pace, my heart aching for her, she sounded so broken.
"Tina!" I called out, rushing toward my best friend.
"Riri! Oh my goodness!" Athena exclaimed, flinging herself into my arms. I wrapped her in a tight hug, trying to absorb some of her distress. "I'm so sorry!" she sobbed into my chest, her body shaking with tears.
I held her close, whispering soothing words as I tried to calm her down. "It's okay, Tina. Don't cry anymore."
As we made our way to Harro's bedside, Athena's eyes widened in horror. She took in the sight of Harro's bandaged body, and her face crumpled. "Oh my God!" she sobbed quietly into her hands, her shoulders trembling with grief.
Athena's eyes locked onto Harro's still form, her voice laced with concern. "What did the doctor say? How's he doing?" I took a deep breath, trying to summarize the doctor's words, but my heart shattered into a million pieces every time I gazed at Harro's motionless body.
"He's hanging in there...we don't know when he's going to wake up." The words felt like a cruel joke, a harsh reminder of the uncertainty that gripped us.
As the doctors came in to check on Harro, Athena gently pulled me aside, her eyes scanning my face with worry. "You haven't slept at all, have you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I shook my head, the exhaustion and fear etched on my face. "I couldn't," I whispered, the words caught in my throat.
Athena's gasp was a soft hiss of concern. "Orion, you can't go on like this! Did you even eat?" she exclaimed, her voice low but urgent. My reluctance to answer spoke volumes, and Athena's eyes widened in alarm. "Oh my God, Orion! You're coming with me right now!" she declared, her hands grasping for mine.
I panicked, my heart racing at the thought of leaving Harro's side. "No, I can't! Please, I can't leave...what if he wakes up and I'm not here?" I pleaded, my voice cracking with desperation. Athena's face softened, her eyes filled with compassion, and she took my hands in hers, her touch warm and reassuring.
Athena's gentle tone cut through my resolve. "I know that Riri, but he's not going to be happy if he wakes up and you're looking like you're about to collapse." Her words struck a chord, and I felt a pang of guilt.
Sabastian's voice interrupted our quiet conversation, his words laced with a hint of amusement. "She's right, you know?" I turned to him, surprised he was awake. He sat up on the couch, resting his chin on the edge, his eyes crinkling at the corners. After introducing himself to Athena, he turned his attention back to me.
"Thanks to you, the doctors loaded me with enough meds to knock me out for the night. I was able to rest, but you...you haven't taken a single break from caring for both of us." He gestured to himself and Harro, his expression softening. "It's your turn to rest now. SJ is not going to be happy seeing you like...well, like the walking dead when he wakes up."
Sabastian's words were gentle , soothing and calming. But I shook my head, my heart heavy with worry. "I just can't leave!" I whispered, my eyes drifting back to Harro's still form.
Sabastian's voice was a gentle coaxing. "Orion, please...go get yourself cleaned up, eat a proper meal, and sleep. I'll call if anything changes, I promise. I don't think I can handle another person in a hospital bed right now." His words were laced with a hint of desperation, and my protests died on my lips. I nodded, feeling a sense of resignation wash over me.
I leaned in, gently kissing Harro's hand before whispering, "I love you. I'll be back before you know it."
Athena mouthed a silent "thank you" to Sabastian as we turned to leave. We walked out of the hospital room, the antiseptic scent and beeping machines fading into the background as we stepped into the bright sunlight. Athena's car was a welcome refuge, the soft hum of the engine and the gentle breeze a soothing balm to my frazzled nerves, a welcome distraction from my thoughts as we drove away from the hospital.