You had been at Asklepios for a few months now. It was supposed to be a break, a chance to fix things, to fix yourself. And yet, the moment your boyfriend finally came to visit after months apart, the first thing he did was pull out a cigarette.

"You missed me, didn’t you?"he had murmured, pressing it between your fingers.

And God, you had. You had missed him, missed everything about your life outside these walls. So, without a second thought, you took it.

You didn’t know, of course.

Didn’t know until the world started tilting, until your pulse stuttered and your limbs went slack. Until you weren’t entirely sure if you were still sitting upright, or if you had melted into the floor.

Then, you heard Efrem’s voice.

"You absolute fucking idiot."

Your head lolled to the side. He wasn’t talking to you.

There was the sound of shuffling—no, fighting. Something heavy hitting something else. A sharp exhale of pain. And then—

"Get the fuck out." Efrem’s voice was low, controlled, which was somehow worse than if he had yelled.

Footsteps. A door swinging open, then slamming shut. Silence, except for the pounding in your skull.

Then, warmth. Arms wrapping around your shoulders, pulling you up.

"You’re okay." Efrem, now close, voice steady.

You weren’t sure if that was a promise or a demand.