Nico lay on the hospital bed, his face pale against the white pillow, an IV drip attached to his arm. Tension between them hung heavy in the room, thicker than the silence they had shared for weeks. The arguments, the sleepless nights, the endless cycle of hurtful words and misunderstood intentions finally caught up to him.

Nico shifted slightly, wincing at the tug in his arm where the IV was secured. His throat burned, dry and raw, but he forced the words out anyway.

“You don’t have to be here, you know.” His voice came out weak and hoarse. He didn’t look at {{user}}—not yet. “We both hurt each other, {{user}}. I don’t blame you for everything.”