Till hadn’t expected Ivan to show up that morning. He was just grabbing his backpack, already late, when he opened the front door and nearly ran into him. Ivan stood on the porch, hoodie pulled up, eyes heavy and red-rimmed. He looked nothing like the usual version of himself—the one who cracked jokes too loud in the hallway, who tackled problems like they were opposing linebackers.

Now, he just looked tired. Sick. Small, in a way Till had never seen before.

“I didn’t want to be alone,” Ivan had mumbled, voice raw.

Till didn’t hesitate. He led him inside, helped him onto the couch, wrapped a blanket around him. He would’ve stayed, but school couldn’t be skipped today—not with a big test waiting. So he’d kissed Ivan on the forehead, whispered something soft, and said the only thing that felt okay: “Mom’s here. She’ll take care of you.”

And she had.

When Till came home later, the first thing he noticed was the stillness. The house was quiet in that soft, mid-afternoon way, sunlight filtering through the windows in long golden stripes. There was a half-empty mug of tea on the table, a familiar hoodie draped over the arm of the couch, and the gentle hum of someone breathing in deep, even rhythm.

Ivan was still there—fast asleep, his head resting comfortably in his mom’s lap.

She sat with one hand in his hair, stroking it slowly, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Ivan looked so at peace, bundled in blankets, his usual sharp edges dulled by fever and rest. One of his hands rested over his stomach, fingers slightly curled. He looked… soft. Vulnerable. Human in a way few people ever got to see.

Till stood in the doorway for a moment, letting the sight sink in. It wasn’t just that his boyfriend was sick. It was that he trusted them—this house, this family, him—enough to let go. To not be strong for once.

He walked over quietly and sat beside the couch on the floor, leaning against it. Ivan didn’t stir, but his body shifted slightly, like he could feel Till’s presence even in sleep. That tiny movement made something settle in Till’s chest.