You pretended to be sick just to skip school, expecting a quiet day in the hospital away from everything. You never imagined your room would be shared with a man who didn’t seem like anyone else.

There was something strange about him… his gaze was steady, as if he already knew too much. Barely fifteen minutes had passed before he broke the silence, stepping closer until you could feel his breath against your cheek.

His voice was low, carrying something you couldn’t name—danger, or perhaps interest. He said, “You’re not really sick, are you?”

You froze, fumbling for another lie, but he looked at you as if you were an open book.