CHAPTER 15– A Breath Too Close
438 Words
Olivia’s POV
It had been three days since I woke up in the hospital.
Three days of questions.
Three days of silence.
Three days of watching Leo try to be someone I could believe in.
But trust wasn’t something you could stitch like skin. Not when the wounds were still open.
He stayed, mostly quiet. Didn’t push.
But every time our eyes met, I could see the weight in his.
He wanted to fix something that was already shattered.
And I didn’t even know if I wanted it fixed.
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I stared at the ceiling, counting each breath.
Trying not to think. Trying not to feel the walls inching closer.
Until something made me freeze.
A sound.
Outside.
Slow steps. Too slow. Measured.
Then—
Silence.
Right outside my door.
I reached for the call button.
Nothing.
Dead.
The handle turned.
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Leo’s POV
I had stepped out for ten minutes.
Just ten.
When I returned to the hallway, my chest tightened instantly.
Something was wrong.
The elevator doors hadn’t fully opened before I heard it—
A scream.
Her scream.
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Olivia’s POV
The door creaked open.
Not Leo.
A woman in scrubs. But I knew instantly.
She wasn’t a nurse.
No clipboard. No ID.
And her smile didn’t touch her eyes.
"Tell Leo the game’s still on," she whispered.
My blood turned to ice.
Then she reached into her coat.
A syringe.
Something inside me screamed: MOVE.
My body burned in protest. But I shoved the sheets off and tried to get out of bed.
My ribs felt like they cracked all over again.
She lunged.
I fought back.
Weak fists. Wild flailing. Screams that tore through my throat.
I slapped at her hand. Scratched her arm. Grabbed the needle.
She shoved me against the mattress.
Pain lit through my spine.
I kicked.
Missed.
She grabbed my arm. I fought. Screamed again.
But my strength was draining fast.
Too fast.
The syringe plunged into my side.
Cold.
Sharp.
She let go and ran.
My vision blurred.
The door burst open.
“OLIVIA!”
Leo.
Too late.
My mouth moved, but no sound came.
The world was spinning.
His face moved toward mine—
But I was already slipping away.
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Leo’s POV
She was collapsing.
Her body limp.
The needle still in her side.
“Get security!” I screamed.
Her eyes tried to find mine—
But they closed.
Too fast.
Too soon.
---
Unknown POV
She screamed.
She fought.
She bled for her breath.
But sometimes, effort doesn’t save you.
Sometimes, it just makes your pain more beautiful.
And she’s not done hurting yet.
- Writer
