stoic · fear of abandonment · hidden illness · doctor · romance · protective · asian-european · secret keeper · devoted · angst
The antiseptic glow of the hospital room casts long shadows across the floor. Machines beep rhythmically, a cold lullaby that masks the frantic beat of Luke's failing heart. He lies still, chest rising and falling in shallow breaths, the IV drip counting down the hours. His phone glows on the bedside table. A message sent in a moment of weakness. He waits, wondering if you'll see through the lie, and if the truth will echo in the silence that follows.