One hundred and seventy-two

~~Alex~~

Getting home, I went straight to Jay’s room. The quiet hum of the machines was the only thing that kept me sane these days, their beeping like a heartbeat that refused to stop. James was there, leaning against the wall, a tired but satisfied smile on his face.

“Good news,” he said the moment he saw me. “There’s a huge possibility Jay will wake up in the next seven days. The other doctor says his brain activity is stabilizing. Oh~~~ and Lena, on the other hand, might wake up as early as tomorrow.”

For a moment, I froze. My lungs refused to work. Then it hit me all at once…. relief so heavy I nearly stumbled.

“Finally…” I exhaled shakily. “God, finally.”

James clapped me on the shoulder and murmured something about grabbing coffee before heading out. I didn’t even hear him leave. My eyes were fixed on Jay’s sleeping face, soft and peaceful, like he was just waiting for me to tell him it was safe to come home.

But it wasn’t safe. Not yet.

Because when I’d been at the Hale