Chapter XII: Human

Marco’s eyes snapped open in the darkness, his chest heavy as his senses were muddled, unable to comprehend where he was. The hospital is never this dark, he thought to himself as he rolled onto his back, registering the soft sheets beneath his back. Blinking away dizziness, he struggled to breathe before his gaze was redirected to the movement beside him. Holding his breath to think that he had indulged in old habits.

Turning to look at the other person, he heaved a breath to notice it being Sofia, all the memories resurfacing. And along with that, came the burning of his chest.

With trembling fingers, he played with the beads on his wrist, trying to give himself the strength to keep it together.

Picking up his phone from the side table, he told himself it was time to get back to the hospital. Pushing the sheets off him, he sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the hem of the curtain