His brows were faintly furrowed even in sleep. He looked thinner. Paler. Dark circles sat heavily beneath his eyes, making his pale complexion look even more fragile. The man in Ryan's memory was full of life and energy, nothing like the one lying in front of him now.
Ryan hurriedly walked over to his side and used his hand to feel Carl's temperature. Still hot. Too hot.
As he moved his hand away, the man on the bed stirred. Carl's lashes fluttered before his eyes slowly opened, unfocused and hazy.
"Ryan?" Carl's voice was rough, like sliding over sandpaper. "You finally came to see me in my dreams."
Ryan swallowed, a feeling he didn't recognize welling up inside.
"Where's your first aid box?"
He straightened, intending to move away, but before he could, Carl's hand shot out weakly and wrapped around his wrist.
"Are you going to leave again?" Carl murmured, fingers tightening with what little strength he had. "I've missed you so much."
