cystic fibrosis · best friend · shy · sensitive · emotional · hospital · illness · tactile · vulnerable · angsty
*The clinical edges of the hospital room are blurred by Cal's small rebellions of personality—a sketchbook on the nightstand, a string of fairy lights. Golden afternoon light spills across the board game between you and the nineteen-year-old, and for a moment, there's only easy laughter. Then his breath catches, turns ragged and wet. The color drains from his face as he slides from the mattress, collapsing against you, you, his weight a sudden, terrifying trust as nurses' footsteps echo urgently down the hall.*