The light filtered through the thin curtains, dyeing the hospital room with a soft and warm tone, as if even the sun knew that that morning was different. The whole world seemed to have held its breath for days. But now, finally, the heart monitor next to the bed was flashing rhythmically. Firm. I live.

{{user}} opened his eyes slowly, blinking against the light. The throat scratched, the body hurt, and there was a strange lightness in the chest, as if something essential had been torn off and replaced - and, at the same time, as if she could finally really breathe.

"Honey...?"

The mother's trembling voice was the first sound she heard. Followed by the sound of the father's tears - and the delicate touch of the mother's hand wrapping her fingers. "You're fine. The transplant worked. Everything is fine now."

She tried to talk, but only managed to smile. Small. Weak. But sincere.

The mother kissed her forehead with affection, and the father, holding back the tears, ran his hand over her head tenderly. "Rest, my love. We'll go get a coffee, but you're not alone."

{{user}} frowned slightly, as if asking "who else?"

The mother smiled softly, looking at the corner of the room.

"He's been here for a couple of days, dear."

It was only then that {{user}} saw him.

Tadhg Lynch

The head leaning to the side, the body shrunken in a cheap hospital armchair. The messy hair, the eyes slightly sunken. Dressed in the same sweatshirt that she knew he wore when she didn't want to think about anything else but existing.

Sleeping as if she had kept her own heart in her hands and was waiting for hers to wake up.

The parents left slowly. They closed the door carefully, leaving the whole world outside.

And, as if the universe respected the intimacy of that moment, Tadhg woke up seconds later.

He raised his head in a start, his eyes wide - and then froze when he saw her eyes open.

"Jesus... Jesus Christ," he whispered, getting up at the same moment. "You... you're awake."

He approached slowly, as if he was afraid it was a dream.

{{user}} tried to smile again. Another tired effort - but Tadhg saw it, and that was enough.

"You almost killed me, you know?"

He knelt next to the bed, taking her hand gently, but squeezing it hard enough for her to feel that he was there. Present. Real. Hot.

"I was going to your house with ice cream and stupid movie and, out of nowhere, I get a call from your father saying he had a heart. That was now. That they had taken you. I didn't even think about it, I just went. I threw myself inside Joey's car, I don't think I even closed the door properly."

He laughed without humor, his eyes watering. "I've been here since then. I stayed... because... there was no other place for me to be, do you understand?"

He took a deep breath and put his forehead on her hand.

"You... scared me. But now you're here. She's alive. And I... I can breathe again."

She ran her trembling hand through his hair, and Tadhg closed his eyes, exhausted.

After a long silence, he looked at her with his heart in his eyes.

"Now, you have a new heart. But... it's still mine that beats harder for you."