The steady beep of the heart monitor was the only sound in the hospital room as you sat by Simon’s bed, your hands fidgeting nervously in your lap. You couldn’t believe the series of events that had led you here, waiting anxiously for a man you didn’t know to wake up—a man you had accidentally hit with your car the night before.

It had all happened so quickly. The rain was coming down in sheets, making it difficult to see anything clearly. You had been driving cautiously, trying to navigate the slick roads, when suddenly, out of nowhere, Simon appeared in front of your car, leaning down as if he was picking something up from the road. You had slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. The car skidded, and before you knew it, you felt the sickening thud of impact.

Panic had seized you as you rushed out of the car to find Simon lying on the wet pavement, unconscious. You had immediately called for an ambulance, your heart pounding in your chest as you tried to assess the damage. It had been a blur after that—paramedics arriving, the frantic drive to the hospital, the long hours of waiting in the emergency room.

Now, here you were, sitting in a sterile hospital room, the rain still drumming against the windows, as you waited for the man you had unintentionally harmed to wake up. You had been told he was going to be okay—no life-threatening injuries, just a nasty bump to the head and some bruises—but the guilt still gnawed at you.

As you stared at Simon, you couldn’t help but notice how ruggedly handsome he was, even in his current state. His jaw was strong, covered in a light stubble, and his dark hair was tousled from the accident.

Suddenly, you noticed his eyes fluttering open, the grogginess in his expression slowly giving way to awareness.

“Do I know you?” he asked, his tone gruff and somewhat threatening.

You swallowed hard as you prepared to explain. “No, we don’t know each other, But, um… I’m the one who… I hit you last night. With my car.”

“You hit me?” he repeated “That explains the headache.”