Tonight
The look on Ethan's face scared me.
Not confusion.
Not stress.
Fear.
Pure fear.
Like someone just told him the worst possible news.
"What happened?" I asked quickly.
He blinked like he forgot I was even there.
"It's Lena," he said. His voice came out rough. "She… she got into an accident."
My heart dropped.
"Accident?"
"She said a bike hit her. I don't even understand properly. She sounded—" he swallowed hard, "—she sounded scared."
Everything inside me twisted.
Not jealousy.
Not anger.
Just something ugly and complicated.
Because no matter what drama existed between us…
I didn't want her hurt.
I'm not that kind of person.
"Where is she?" I asked.
"Hospital. A few streets away."
He looked torn.
Like he didn't know how to move.
Like if he ran to her, he'd lose me.
Like if he stayed with me, he'd hate himself.
And suddenly I understood something.
This wasn't about choosing girls.
This was about humanity.
History or not… if someone you once loved is bleeding in a hospital, you go.
No questions.
No pride.
You go.
So why did it still hurt?
Why did my chest feel like someone was squeezing it?
"I should go," he said softly, almost like he was asking permission.
That broke me a little.
Because he shouldn't have to ask.
And the fact that he felt like he needed to meant I'd already become something important to him.
"I know," I said.
He searched my face. "Mira…"
"Go," I repeated. "Don't stand here."
"But we were talking. I don't want you to think I'm running to her again or choosing—"
"Ethan," I cut in gently, "she's hurt. This isn't romance drama. This is real life. Go."
Silence.
Then he stepped closer.
"So you're not mad?"
I forced a small smile. "If you don't go, I'll actually be mad."
For the first time tonight, he smiled too.
Soft. Grateful.
"You're too good," he said quietly.
No.
I'm not.
If only he knew how messy my head was right now.
He squeezed my hand once.
"Don't disappear on me," he whispered.
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't trust myself to promise that.
Then he rushed to his car and drove off.
Just like that.
Gone.
The street became quiet again.
Empty.
Like nothing happened.
But everything had.
The walk back to my house felt longer than before.
Slower.
Heavy.
His hoodie was still around my shoulders.
Warm.
Smelling like him.
I hugged it tighter without meaning to.
Stupid heart.
Why are you like this?
You told him to go.
You know it's the right thing.
So why does it feel like you just watched him run back to someone else?
My brain tried to reason with me.
She's hurt.
It's not a date.
It's an emergency.
But feelings aren't logical.
They don't care about facts.
They just hurt anyway.
I didn't sleep that night.
I lay in bed staring at my phone.
Waiting.
For something.
A text.
A call.
Anything.
Just proof that after everything… he still remembered me.
Hours passed.
Nothing.
1:12 AM.
Still nothing.
My chest tightened.
Maybe he forgot.
Maybe he's with her.
Maybe old feelings came back.
Maybe hospitals make people emotional and they start remembering love and—
Stop.
Stop thinking.
You're torturing yourself.
At 2:03 AM, my phone buzzed.
I grabbed it so fast I almost dropped it.
Ethan: "She's okay. Just minor injuries. I'm still here. Didn't want you to worry."
My shoulders relaxed.
I didn't even realize I'd been holding my breath.
Then another message came.
"Thank you for telling me to come. You were right."
Then:
"I kept thinking about you the whole time."
My heart melted a little.
Traitor.
I typed back slowly.
"I'm glad she's okay. Get home safe."
Three dots appeared immediately.
"You still awake?"
"Yeah."
A few seconds passed.
Then my phone rang.
He was calling.
At 2 AM.
I picked up.
"Hey," I whispered.
His voice came through tired and soft.
"Hey."
Hospital sounds echoed faintly behind him.
Beeping machines. Footsteps. Low voices.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah. You?"
"Exhausted."
Silence.
Comfortable silence.
The kind that only exists when two people care too much.
Then he said something quiet.
Something small.
But it went straight into my chest.
"I missed you tonight."
I closed my eyes.
Damn him.
Why does he say things like this?
"You saw me like two hours ago," I said.
"Still," he replied. "Felt weird not talking to you."
My heart beat faster.
"I thought you'd be mad," he continued. "Or ignore me again."
"I almost did," I admitted.
He laughed softly. "Yeah. That sounds like you."
Then his voice dropped lower.
"Mira?"
"Hmm?"
"Don't give up on me yet. Please."
There it was again.
Please.
And God help me…
I don't think I know how to say no to him.
But what neither of us knew…
Was that this accident?
This hospital night?
This wasn't going to bring closure.
It was about to drag Lena deeper into our lives than ever before.
And sometimes…
The past doesn't let go quietly.
Sometimes…
It fights back.