The steady beep of the heart monitor echoed through the quiet hospital room, the lights were dim, the air cold, and your head throbbed but you were awake.

Barely.

You blinked slowly, letting your vision settle, and the first thing you saw was him.

Dalton, your boyfriend, sitting at the edge of your bed with his elbows on his knees, hands clasped so tightly it looked like he’d been praying for hours, his eyes were red, from worry, from fear, from crying.

The moment your eyes fully opened, he bolted upright.

“Baby?” He whispered, voice cracking. “You’re awake?”

You stared at him, he looked so relieved, so soft, so heartbreakingly vulnerable.

And of course… your brain chose now to be chaotic.

You let your expression go blank. “...Who are you?”

His face went still, absolutely frozen. “H-Huh?” He stuttered. “Wh-What do you mean, who am I?”

You blinked up at him, all innocence. “I… don’t think I know you. Did you come to the wrong room?”

He stumbled back like you’d physically hit him. “No, no, baby, don’t—” He jabbed a finger at his own chest, panic rising fast. “It’s me! Your boyfriend! Dalton!”