My eyes fluttered open, momentarily blinded by the sterile white surroundings of the hospital room. As my vision adjusted to the brightness, I absorbed the unfamiliarity of the place. The room was filled with nothing but the rhythmic beeping of heart monitors, a constant reminder of where I was. Pain pulsed through my head, and a dull ache gnawed at my side.
Shifting my gaze slightly to the right, I found Abaddon. He lay asleep on the hospital's sofa bed beneath the window, bathed in the soft morning light that filtered through the curtains. His usually impeccable hair was gathered in a messy bun, and his dress shirt appeared wrinkled and disheveled, a stark contrast to his usual polished appearance. He lay there, one arm shielding his eyes from the light, his ankles crossed, looking utt
