*Taemin’s POV*

Two days had gone by, and I was still in the waiting room. I accepted the water my hyungs, noonas/dongsaengs brought me, but no food. I still couldn’t eat. I was probably too weak from worry and fatigue to hold a pair of chopsticks anyway.

“How are you doing?” Key asked, taking a seat next to me.

I didn’t answer. I just stared straight ahead. It was like I was in someone else’s body, looking in from a window on my life. The state of reality had vanished from my mind.

“Taemin.” Key was in my face now. I had no choice but to respond.

“What?” I asked blankly.

“It’s time to come home. The doctors are doing everything they can. Being here or at the mansion isn’t going to make a difference.”

“Yes it does,” I answered, still staring across the room at nothing. “Imagine it was Brianna. Would you leave her? If she was hurting and fighting for her life, would you just go on without her?”

“Taemin,” Key rested a hand on my shoulder.

“NO KEY!” I shouted. We were the only ones in the waiting room, though it wouldn’t have made a difference to me. “I’m NOT going back!”

“Taemin?” I turned at the sound of my name. I nurse stood a little ways away, clipboard in hand. “Carolyn has finally woken up. She isn’t in the most stable condition, but she’s showing slight improvement. It’s still too soon to make any long-term predictions, but we’re going to continue giving her the best care we can. Would you like to see her?”

I immediately jumped up.

“She’s still groggy and is going in and out of consciousness,” the nurse said as she led me to Carolyn’s room. “She won’t be able to handle much and she might not make a lot of sense.” The nurse pushed open the door and ushered me into the room.

I gasped when I saw Carolyn. Most of her exposed skin was either bruised or cut up. Her leg was propped up for healing and a white bandage was wrapped around her forehead. She had an IV in her hand and wires attached to her chest to track her heart rate. I felt tears sting at my eyes, but I held them back. I wanted to be strong for Carolyn, just like she had been strong for me.

I stood by her bedside, examining her fragile body. I slipped her hand into mine and held it tight. One tear escaped out of my eye, landing on her cheek. Suddenly her eyes fluttered open.

“Oppa?”

My heart did a flip. Just the sound of her voice was enough to make more tears fall from my eyes. “I’m here Carolyn. Everything’s going to be okay.”

My smile faded as a confused look came over her face. “Who are you?”

Three words. All it took was three words to take make my overjoyed mood come crashing down. I felt like my heart was breaking. It was just like in the movies. I put a hand up to my mouth, trying to hide my shock.

“Carolyn I’m-,”

“I’m Dr. Burton. I’ve been taking care of you for the past few days. How are you feeling?”

“My head hurts… my leg hurts… and it feels like someone dropped a load of bricks on my back,” she answered slowly. I could tell each word was a struggle for her.

“Carolyn,” I whispered, “You know who I am right?”

“Of course I know who you are Taemin,” she managed a weak smile and tried to laugh but was unsuccessful. “I-I’m not brain dead.”

“That’s not funny,” I said straightly.

“I’m sorry. I just… can you hug me?” She tried to reach out toward me, but the pain and weakness in her body restricted her.

I bent down and hugged her as tightly as I dared. If I could’ve, I would’ve squeezed her with all my might, but I didn’t want to put her in any more pain than she was already in.

“You scared the crap out of me,” my voice crackled into her ear. My throat was dry and I’d begun to cry, making talking a challenge. “Don’t you ever do that again,” I commanded, pulling away to look at her. “I thought I was going to lose you; my everything! I don’t know what I would’ve done if-,”

“Taemin, English please,” she laughed.

I hadn’t even realized that I’d begun to talk in Korean. “Sorry,” I blushed.

“I- I think I need some sleep now,” she said closing her eyes. I felt her hand go limp in mine, and within seconds she was asleep.

“She’s so weak. Is it supposed to be this bad?” I asked the doctor in concern.

“I was actually surprised she said and did all that she had! She must’ve been really glad to see you,” the doctor replied.

I looked back at Carolyn sleeping soundly. “Can I stay with her?”

“You can stay as long as you’d like,” the doctor smiled. “But, you might have to leave every now and then if need be.”

“That’s fine. Thank you,” I smiled and bowed politely before turning back to Carolyn. I gently brushed my hand across her cheek. “I’ll never leave you, yebo. Never.”