All Chapters of Dying to Love You: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The fever hit me like a freight train three days after our skydiving adventure.I woke drenched in sweat, my lungs feeling like they were packed with concrete, each breath a painful struggle that sent daggers through my chest."Shit." I whispered to the dark room, my voice a raspy shadow of itself. I'd been expecting this, the inevitable backlash from pushing my body too far. Skydiving had been worth it, but now I was paying the price.I fumbled for my phone on the nightstand, checking the time: 3:17 AM. My fingers hovered over May's contact, then stopped. She'd warned me about the skydiving, said it was too risky with my lung function already declining.If I woke her now, the worry and 'I told you so ' would be unbearable.Instead, I dragged myself out of bed, legs trembling beneath me as I made my way to the bathroom. The face that greeted me in the mirror was a stranger's, pale with dark shadows beneath glazed eyes, lips tinged an alarming shade of blue."Not good," I muttered, gra

Marcus appeared in the doorway, looking oddly out of place in the sterile hospital room with his designer clothes and perfect hair. He carried a small vase of flowers and what looked like a book."Sam." he said, his confident demeanor faltering slightly when he saw the oxygen tubing and IV lines. "I...I hope I'm not intruding.""How did you know I was here?" I asked, painfully aware of how I must look, pale, sweaty, my hair a tangled mess against the pillow."My mother sits on the hospital board," he explained, setting the flowers on the windowsill. "She mentioned a young woman with CF had been admitted. There aren't many of us in town, so.." He trailed off awkwardly."That's...thoughtful," I said, unsure how to feel about his presence. We weren't friends, exactly, just friendly acquaintances from his regular visits to the bakery."I brought you these," he continued, holding out the book. It was another first edition..." 'Anne of Green Gables' this time. "My mother always says books

May blocked my path, her usually warm demeanor replaced with something firmer. "Not today, Raf. She needs uninterrupted rest.""But he can visit ?" I jerked my chin toward Marcus, who had the sense to look uncomfortable."I was just dropping off some reading material," he explained mildly. "I didn't actually see Sam.""Reading material" I repeated flatly, imagining more first editions and fancy gifts. "How fucking thoughtful.""Rafael," May said sharply. "Not now."Something was off. May looked too worried, too worn down for this to be about a simple cold. And why would Marcus bring gifts if he wasn't even seeing Sam?Nothing made sense."May, please," I said, my voice lower now. "I just need to know she's okay."Her expression softened slightly. "She will be. She just needs time.""Time for what?" My frustration was mounting. "What's really going on?""Nothing you need to worry about," she said firmly. "I'll have her call you when she's feeling up to it."Before I could argue further

SAMANTHA~I'd never been a good liar, but after nine days of practice, I was getting better."You're sure you're up for this?" Rafael asked for the third time as he loaded a small cooler into Persephone's saddlebags. His eyes scanned my face with an intensity that made me nervous. "You still look pale.""I'm fine." I insisted, adjusting my backpack straps over my shoulders. The weight made my lungs protest, but I carefully controlled my breathing. "It was just a bad flu. I'm over it now."The truth, that I'd spent three days in the hospital with pneumonia, another four on home oxygen, and was still taking oral antibiotics, remained lodged in my throat like a stone. I'd rehearsed the lie with May, constructing a neat timeline that explained my absence without raising suspicion. I'd even convinced her to hide all evidence of my medical equipment before Rafael arrived.Rafael studied me a moment longer, unconvinced. "If you're not feeling it— ""I want to do this," I interrupted, forc

He must have heard something in my tone, because he turned to face me fully. "What's going on with you, Sunny? And don't say 'nothing' or 'I'm fine.' something's different."I stared into the fire, unable to meet his eyes. "Just growing up, I guess. Realizing life is complicated.""Is it the asthma getting worse?" he pressed. "Because May seemed really worried, and you were sick longer than made sense for just a flu.""It's not that," I lied, still unable to tell him the full truth. "I've just been thinking a lot about what matters, what I want to do with the time I have.""The time you have?" he repeated, frowning. "You make it sound like you're dying or something."My laugh came out forced. "Aren't we all technically?""That's dark, even for you." He studied me in the firelight. "Seriously, Sam. Talk to me."I finally met his gaze, seeing the concern there, the care that might turn to pity if he knew the truth. "I just want to focus on now," I said softly. "On being here, with you,