CHAPTER 154: I FOUND YOU AGAIN

The room was still. The blinds shifted slightly from the soft breeze of the AC vent, casting lines of light and shadow across the white floor tiles.

Camila had stepped out briefly, and now Artur sat alone beside Billy once more.

The light brushed over Billy’s face—unmoving, serene.

Artur leaned forward slightly, elbows on his knees, hands clasped together. For a while, he said nothing. Just watched.

Then he slowly turned his hand upward—and placed it gently over Billy’s.

He didn’t need permission anymore.

"Hey..." he said quietly. "It’s me."

His voice cracked on the second word.

"I’m sorry I came late. I should’ve been here sooner. I should’ve known."

A long pause.

The steady beep of the monitor was the only response.

Artur looked at him, eyes soft but rimmed with emotion. His fingers curled a little tighter around Billy’s.

"The truth is... I’ve been talking to you every day. Out loud. In my head. In my chest."

He laughed lightly under his breath, humorless.

"I never thought I’d sit here, asking you to open your eyes like this."

He stayed still now, his voice quieter than breath, but steady in a way that said: I mean this.

"There’s so much I want to say. But the most important part is this..."

He swallowed, jaw tightening slightly.

"I miss you. And I love you. And I’m not going anywhere."

He watched his face for a second, as if hoping for the smallest flinch.

"So take your time," Artur whispered, his thumb brushing lightly over Billy’s hand. "But when you come back... I’ll be here."

Then, gently, Artur rested his forehead against the back of Billy’s hand. A long breath escaped his chest.

No tears this time.

Just silence... and A love that didn’t need to speak. It was already known, steady beneath the silence.

The hallway light spilled through the doorframe, soft and golden.

The rest of the room was dim, just the soft blue glow of the monitor reflecting off pale skin and unmoving fingers.

Artur sat beside the bed, exactly where he’d been for hours—maybe longer.

His spine slightly hunched, hand still resting over Billy’s. The rhythm of the monitor had become part of his breath.

He hadn’t blinked in a while. The weight of everything sat on his shoulders like wet cloth.

The door creaked open.

Camila stepped in, holding a paper bag and bottled water. Her eyes landed on Artur immediately.

She paused.

He looked paler than usual. Hollow beneath the eyes, his knuckles slightly white from how long he’d been gripping Billy’s hand.

"Artur..." her voice was soft, concerned. "You need to move. You haven’t stood up since I left."

He blinked like he was waking from a long thought.

"I’m okay," he muttered.

She walked closer, setting the bag down. Then placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Just stretch. Walk a little. Even the nurses noticed. I’ll stay with him."

Artur looked at Billy, then up at Camila. He hesitated—just a flicker of something like guilt, like he didn’t want to blink in case he missed something.

She smiled at him softly.

"He’ll be right here. And I’m not leaving his side. Promise."

He swallowed and nodded slowly.

"Just for a moment," he whispered.

Camila reached behind her and offered an umbrella.

"Weather’s changing. Just in case."

He took it silently, looked at Billy once more... then leaned forward.

Artur brushed his fingers over Billy’s knuckles.

"I’ll be right back," he whispered, barely audible. "Don’t wake up without me."

He stood, his steps slow, his shadow stretching along the floor as he walked to the door.

The door clicked shut.

Silence returned.

Camila adjusted the blanket slightly over Billy, sat beside him.

For a moment, she just looked at his face—the slope of his brows, the gentleness of his lips.

"You almost didn’t come back to us," she whispered, brushing his knuckles gently.

Then, gently, she reached for his hand.

And felt it twitch.

She froze.

Another twitch.

Then...

A flutter of his eyelids.

"Leon?" she whispered, breath catching.

His fingers moved again. Slight. Hesitant. But real.

His lips parted. Dry. Barely moving.

"Where is he...?"

Camila gasped, covering her mouth. Her eyes widened—tears threatening.

"Artur?" she asked, voice breaking. "He—he was just here. You... oh my God, you’re awake."

Billy blinked, head barely turning.

"He’s here... right? I know he’s here..."

Camila stood up so quickly the chair screeched back.

"Wait—wait, don’t move, I’ll go get him. He’s not far."

Billy tried to sit up, the IV pulling at his arm gently. Camila rushed to support him.

"Wait here," she whispered. "He’s right outside."

But Billy had already swung his legs off the side of the bed, unsteady but determined.

Every movement burned, but it was nothing compared to the ache in his chest.

He stood, barefoot, and stepped slowly—fragile, but full of something urgent.

He opened the door...

And stepped into the hallway.

The door clicked softly behind Camila.

Billy sat up slowly, every movement sharp—but it was nothing compared to the ache that pulled him forward. He needed to see him.

He swung his legs over the bed, the floor cold beneath his feet. The IV tugged lightly, but he ignored it.

He had to find him.

Billy stepped out quietly. The hallway was mostly empty, dimly lit. A nurse walked by at the far end, but didn’t notice him.

He turned toward the elevators, then—

Stopped.

The faint sound of rain.

He glanced to the side—down the hallway, past the waiting area, through the glass doors.

A light rain had started. The scent of it drifted in, fresh and clean, like something was beginning again.

His heart skipped.

The rain had deepened into a soft curtain, not heavy, but persistent.

Billy stepped out slowly, hospital slippers damp within seconds. The gown clung slightly to his back. His breath hitched.

He looked around—scanning the lot, the benches, the edge of the sidewalk. His eyes narrowed.

A figure stood beneath the overhang, just at the far edge, barely lit by the glow of a streetlamp. Umbrella hanging loosely at his side. Shoulders hunched.

Billy’s voice cracked through the rain.

"Artur?"

The figure didn’t move at first.

Billy stepped forward, slow at first, then faster.

"Artur—!"

The figure turned.

It was him.

And the umbrella dropped to the ground.

Artur stared, rain beginning to wet his shoulders, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Billy stopped a few paces away, chest rising hard, tears mixing with the raindrops on his face.

"I knew it... I knew you were here," he said, barely above a whisper.

Artur’s lips parted, but he said nothing—just moved.

They collided at the center of the open space, arms wrapping around each other like they’d been waiting lifetimes for this one second.

Billy pressed his face to Artur’s neck, shaking.

"I woke up and..." A pause. He swallowed. "I just had to see you. Before I forgot how it felt."

Artur held him tighter, one hand cradling the back of his head.

"You didn’t forget," Artur whispered, voice cracking. "You came back."

Billy pulled back just enough to look at him.

"I found you once. I’ll keep finding you. Every time."

Artur’s thumb brushed a raindrop—or maybe a tear—from Billy’s cheek.

They stood there, soaked to the bone, the world around them blurred into silence—just two hearts pressing into one moment.

And finally... Artur whispered:

"Let’s go inside."

Billy nodded, resting his forehead gently against Artur’s for just a breath longer.

Then, hand in hand, they turned toward the door—

—together.

Camila stood by the window.

She hadn’t sat since Billy stepped out. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, a silent war of worry playing in her eyes. Every minute that passed stretched the ache inside her a little further.

She glanced toward the door. The rain tapping softly on the glass now.

Still no sign of them.

She exhaled.

Then—

The door creaked open.

Her breath caught.

Billy stepped inside, soaked to the skin, hair dripping slightly onto the collar of his hospital gown.

But there was something different about him now—something settled, soft in the curve of his mouth, steady in his eyes.

And beside him—

Artur.

Camila blinked.

For a second, she didn’t move—didn’t speak. Her eyes welled, lips parted in silent awe.

A slow exhale left her lungs like she’d been holding it for days.

Billy gave her a small nod.

"I found him," he said softly.

Artur offered a quiet, polite glance—then looked away quickly, still clearly overwhelmed.

Camila swallowed hard.

Then she smiled, small and wobbly.

"Took you long enough... but I knew you’d find him."

Billy let out a faint laugh through his nose. "I know."

Camila turned, wiping quickly beneath her eye. She didn’t want to ruin the moment by crying too hard.

"I’ll give you two a moment," she whispered, stepping toward the door.

As she passed Billy, she placed a gentle hand on his arm—and looked at him.

"You had us terrified," she whispered, voice cracking just slightly. "But I knew you’d come back."

Billy gave her hand a light squeeze. "Thanks for keeping me grounded."

She slipped out quietly.

And then they were alone.

Billy turned to Artur again, still catching his breath, still letting the reality of now settle into him.

Outside,The steady patter against the glass played like a lullaby in the background.

Inside, everything finally... felt warm again.