The Butterfly Tattoo

The faint hum of the heart monitor was softer that morning.

Naomi sat upright on the bed, the white hospital sheets neatly tucked around her legs, watching the doctor adjust the monitor’s cables.

Her hair had grown messy over the past few days, and she’d refused to let anyone but herself brush it out. There was something grounding about doing something by herself. Especially now that she had both Soonie and Damon fighting yo take care of her.

Especially when she had to undergo her fractures. It was a mess and she found herself trying to separate fights instead of taking a rest. She had no idea who the patient and the family were anymore.

Dr. Harlow was flipping through her chart, murmuring something about vitals and progress, her voice light but professional.

“Your recovery has been remarkable, Naomi,” she said, offering a small, reassuring smile. “No signs of a concussion anymore, no new complications. You’ll still need to take it easy for a few weeks, but you’re strong. I think we can let you go home today.”

Naomi blinked, her heart lifting a little. “Home,” she echoed softly, tasting the word like it was foreign. “That sounds… nice.”

Soonie, who had been leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, straightened at once. “You’re sure she’s ready?” she asked sharply, her voice laced with worry. “She barely remembers what happened that day. What if…”

“Soonie,” Naomi cut in gently, her tone calm but firm. “I’ll be fine.”

Soonie’s eyes darted to her, then to Damon, who stood silently near the window. He hadn’t said much all morning. Just stood there, hands buried deep in his pockets, his jaw tight with thought.

The sunlight caught the edge of his watch and flashed across his face for a moment, pulling Naomi’s gaze to him before she quickly looked away.

Dr. Harlow handed Naomi her discharge papers. “Everything’s in order. Just follow the prescription, avoid stress, and no sudden movements or overexertion.”

“I’ll make sure she doesn’t,” Damon said finally, his voice deep and even. There was no room for argument in his tone.

The doctor nodded and exited, leaving a still silence behind.

“Home,” Naomi said again, quieter this time, staring down at her lap.

Soonie gave her a small, half-forced smile. “You don’t sound happy about it.”

“I am,” Naomi said, though her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Just… nervous, I guess.”

Damon approached, holding out a small duffel bag. “I went home earlier to grab you a few things,” he said. “Clothes, your favorite lotion, the sketchbook on your desk. You left it open on a half-finished page.”

Naomi looked up, surprised. “You remembered?”

He gave her that faint, fleeting smirk, the kind that barely lifted one corner of his mouth. “ Come on. Go get ready. I want to take you somewhere.”

She felt a small warmth in her chest, the kind that startled her more than she’d like to admit.

“In this state?” Soonie snapped and Naomi sighed, she was so sick of the back and forth already. Soonie swallowed. “I’m sorry. I just thought…”

“I'll go take a shower.”

“Do you need help?” Damon asked but Naomi shook her head. “Never mind.”

“Wow,” Soonie muttered, arms crossed again. “Look at you two. Domestic already.”

Naomi laughed lightly, almost despite herself. “Stop.”

“I’m serious,” Soonie said, grinning now, though the edge in her tone didn’t quite fade. “He’s got you all figured out, huh?”

Damon only arched a brow in response. “I try.”

Naomi chin flushed and for a moment, the room felt normal. Like none of the chaos had happened. Like she wasn’t still waking up in the middle of the night to echoes of her own scream.

“I'll be right out.” Naomi steps into the bathroom.

Damon bent slightly to zip up the bag, and Soonie caught herself watching him, her expression flickering between irritation and something else. She shoved her hands into her hoodie pocket, trying to hide the twitch of emotion in her fingers.

Damon straightened just as his gaze brushed over her wrist, and for a moment, his attention lingered there.

A small butterfly tattoo, pale blue ink barely visible beneath her skin.

His eyes narrowed slightly but before he could think too deeply about it, Soonie caught him looking and pulled her sleeve down, hiding the ink completely.

“What?” she asked defensively.

“Nothing,” he said simply, tucking the bag in place.

♤

Outside the hospital, the afternoon air was bright, and far too loud after the quiet of Naomi’s room. She paused by the steps, feeling the world tilt a little beneath her. Damon was instantly at her side, steadying her with a hand at her elbow.

“Careful,” he murmured. “Don’t rush.”

“I’m fine,” she said softly, though she didn’t pull away.

Soonie hovered nearby, eyes flicking between them. “I could come with you,” she said suddenly. “Just until you’re settled in. You shouldn’t be alone.”

Naomi turned to her, smiling gently. “Soonie… I’ll be okay. Damon’s here.”

Soonie’s frown deepened. “That’s exactly what worries me.”

Damon’s lips twitched in what might’ve been amusement. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It wasn’t one,” Soonie snapped.

Naomi sighed. “Soonie.”

Her best friend hesitated, then leaned in to hug her. “Call me if anything feels off, okay? Anything. I’ll come running.”

“I will,” Naomi promised, her voice soft but sure.

Soonie nodded as the car pulled over in front of them. Patrick steps out and hands the keys over to Damon. Damon helped Naomi into the car before dropping off her bag in the booth and settling down next to her in the driver's seat.

The drive was quiet at first. So much had happened and now she is supposed to return back to her normal life like nothing happened.

Naomi stared out the window, watching the trees blur past. “It’s strange,” she said after a long while. “Leaving the hospital feels like stepping into someone else’s life.”

Damon glanced at her briefly. “You’ll get it back,” he said. “Piece by piece.”

She smiled faintly. “You sound sure.”

“I have to be.”

There was a pause.

Naomi glanced at him again, searching his face for something she couldn’t name. His hands gripped the steering wheel like he was holding the world in place.

“Damon,” she said softly. “You don't like Soonie , do you know?”

His jaw tightened for a fraction of a second. “Do you want me to be honest?”

She looked down at her hands, unsure what to say to that. “Shes just upset about how things….started with us. It's going to take a lot to convince her that you're here to stay.”

Damon said nothing. Unfortunately, he wasn't interested in convincing her about where he stands. Maybe he is just being overprotective but something about Soonie makes him always want to keep her far away from his wife.

A million miles away..

“Where are we going anyway?”

Damon smiled. “Its a surprise.”