It had been almost two weeks since Kaiden last saw {{user}} at school. Her seat beside him stayed empty, her notebook still open as if waiting for her to return. Even at basketball practice, the bleachers where she used to sit were silent. Every time he passed her house, the door was shut tight, the windows dark — like the whole place had gone quiet with her absence.

Monday morning came. The classroom felt heavier than usual. When the teacher entered and started writing on the board, Kaiden couldn’t focus — his eyes kept drifting toward {{user}}’s empty chair. When the bell finally rang, he stood up, walking straight to the teacher’s desk.
“Sir… may I ask? Why hasn’t {{user}} come to school? It’s been two weeks.”
The teacher paused, closing his book. “She’ll be taking her finals later. A special schedule.”
Kaiden frowned. “A special schedule? Is she sick? Is it bad?”
The teacher didn’t answer. He just gathered his papers and walked out.

Kaiden followed him into the hallway. “Sir, please! Just tell me what’s going on!”
The teacher stopped. “Kaiden, this is private. You shouldn’t interfere.”
“I can’t just stand here! I went to her house—no one’s there! Please, I just need to know she’s okay!”
The man looked at him, eyes softening a little. “You really want to know?”
Kaiden nodded desperately. “Yes. Please.”

With a sigh, the teacher said quietly, “{{user}} has been hospitalized. She just underwent surgery to remove a tumor. Her family didn’t want anyone at school to know.”
Kaiden froze. The hallway seemed to fade around him. “A… tumor?” he whispered. “Where is she now?”
The teacher scribbled an address on a small piece of paper and handed it to him. “Here. But you didn’t hear it from me.”

The moment school ended, Kaiden ran. He caught the nearest bus, gripping the paper tightly in his trembling hand. The ride felt endless — his mind replaying every smile, every laugh, every time {{user}} said she was “fine.” He wanted to scream at himself for not seeing it.

When he arrived at the hospital, a woman turned as he approached. {{user}}’s mother.
“Kaiden?” she asked, surprised. “How did you find out?”
He lowered his gaze. “From a teacher, ma’am. I just… I needed to see her.”
Her eyes softened. “She’s just finished surgery. She’s stable now, but still in a coma.”
Kaiden’s voice trembled. “May I see her?”
After a long pause, the woman nodded. “Go ahead.”

He stepped into the room quietly. The air smelled of antiseptic and silence. Machines beeped softly beside the bed. {{user}} lay still, her skin pale, her hair gone.
Kaiden froze, breath catching. He walked closer, pulling a chair to her side.

“Hey…” His voice cracked. “You still look beautiful, you know? Even like this.”
He let out a shaky laugh that broke into tears. “Why didn’t you tell me? I kept waiting for you at practice… I thought you were just tired.”
He took her cold hand in both of his. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. I didn’t even realize how much I—” He stopped, swallowing hard. “How much I need you.”

His tears fell onto her hand. “I don’t care about anything else anymore. Just wake up, please. Yell at me, laugh at me, anything. Just come back.”
The room was still except for the steady rhythm of the heart monitor — the only sound that told him she was still here.
Kaiden bowed his head beside her, whispering her name like a prayer that refused to fade.