Chapter 5: A Sincere Check
913 Words
Dylan had never felt this weak before.
The hospital room was dimly lit, the beeping of the monitor the only sound breaking the silence. His arm was wrapped in a cast, and a dull ache throbbed through his body, a constant reminder of the accident. His head felt heavy, clouded by painkillers, but even they couldn't numb the thoughts storming in his mind.
He had nearly died.
That thought alone sent a chill down his spine. The memory of the collision played on repeat in his head—the screeching of tires, the sudden impact, the way time seemed to slow down as he hit the ground. And then, through the haze, the faintest memory of someone’s voice.
Hannah.
His fingers clenched into fists. Why was she the one he kept thinking about? Why did her voice seem to echo in his mind more than the accident itself? He had spent so much time convincing himself that she was nothing more than an annoying presence in his life, yet in that moment, when he had been on the brink of losing consciousness, it was her voice he had wanted to hold on to.
Dylan exhaled sharply, frustrated at himself.
What was happening to him?
As if summoned by his thoughts, a soft knock sounded at the door. He turned his head, expecting a nurse or his father, but instead, he found himself staring into familiar brown eyes.
Hannah.
She hesitated at the doorway, gripping the straps of her bag as if debating whether or not she should step inside. The warm hospital light cast a gentle glow on her face, making her features look softer than usual. There was something unreadable in her expression—concern, maybe? Or was he just imagining it?
“Hey,” she said quietly.
Dylan blinked. He had expected her to gloat, to say something self-righteous like, See? You’re not invincible. But she didn’t. Instead, her gaze flickered to his injured arm before meeting his again.
“I heard what happened.”
He didn’t respond.
“I… I just wanted to check if you were okay.”
His chest tightened at her words. Why did she care? Was this just another act? Another one of her perfect Christian good-girl performances?
“I’m fine,” he muttered, looking away.
A beat of silence stretched between them. He expected her to leave, to take the hint, but instead, she stepped further into the room.
“I know you probably don’t want me here,” she said, her voice careful, “but I just wanted to say that… I’m glad you’re okay.”
Dylan let out a bitter chuckle. “Glad, huh?”
Hannah frowned slightly but didn’t back down. “Yeah. I am.”
Something about the way she said it made his heart lurch in a way he wasn’t prepared for. There was no pity in her tone, no forced kindness. Just… sincerity.
Before he could stop himself, he asked, “Why?”
Hannah looked taken aback by the question, as if she hadn’t expected him to challenge her reasons. But after a moment, she sighed.
“Because no one deserves to go through something like that,” she said softly. “Not even you.”
Her words hit him harder than he thought they would.
Not even you.
As if, despite everything—despite the way he had treated her, the way he had mocked her—she still saw some kind of worth in him.
He didn’t know whether that infuriated him or made him feel something dangerously close to guilt.
Before he could dwell on it any longer, the door opened again, and Josh stepped in. His easy-going expression faltered when he noticed Hannah standing there. His gaze flicked between the two of them before he smirked.
“Well, well. Didn’t expect to see you here, Hannah.”
Hannah cleared her throat and took a step back. “I was just about to leave.”
She turned back to Dylan. “Take care.”
And just like that, she was gone.
Josh raised an eyebrow at Dylan. “That was… unexpected.”
Dylan scoffed. “Tell me about it.”
Josh pulled up a chair and leaned back, arms crossed. “You two have some weird tension going on.”
“There’s no ‘tension.’”
Josh chuckled. “Right. Sure.” He changed the subject quickly. “Anyway, I wasn’t the only one who wanted to check up on you.”
Dylan furrowed his brows. “What do you mean?”
As if on cue, Lorie peeked her head into the room. “Is it okay if I come in?”
Josh straightened a little at the sight of her, his usual teasing demeanor momentarily faltering.
“Uh—yeah, of course,” he said quickly.
Dylan noticed the slight shift in his tone.
Lorie walked in, her hands clasped together. “I just… wanted to see how you were doing, Dylan.”
Dylan waved his good hand dismissively. “Still alive. Unfortunately for some people.”
Lorie smiled slightly, but Dylan didn’t miss the way her gaze lingered on Josh for a second longer than necessary.
Josh, on the other hand, suddenly seemed unable to sit still, tapping his fingers against his knee in an uncharacteristically nervous manner.
Dylan narrowed his eyes at them.
Oh.
So that’s how it is.
He smirked to himself. Maybe this hospital stay wouldn’t be so boring after all.
- Writer
