The morning had bloomed into full light by the time Savannah arrived at the hospital. The sky stretched out in a seamless blue, the kind that might've felt hopeful on any other day. But as the car rolled into the hospital's private lot, all that hope seemed muted by the storm swirling inside her.
The car glided to a gentle stop, and before she could even reach for the door, Blaze was already out and moving quickly to her side. The door opened with a soft click, revealing him—his tall silhouette framed by the sunlight, one hand resting on the door while the other reached out to her, waiting.
Savannah paused for just a moment before slipping her hand into his. It was warm. Familiar. She stepped out with grace, adjusting her coat as a light breeze brushed against her face.
Blaze didn't let go of her hand. His fingers lingered around hers with a tenderness that might have once melted her defenses. His dark eyes searched her face, trying to decipher the unreadable, attempting to penetrate the calm facade she wore.
"Call me if you need anything," he said, his voice soft yet carrying a quiet strength—like a man eager to offer the world but unsure how to do so without shattering it.
Savannah's eyes met his.
Not too long ago, those words from him would have been enough. She would have nodded, smiled, maybe leaned into the comfort of his promise, truly believing he would always be there to catch her if she stumbled.
But that time was behind her.
Even now, with the warmth of his hand enveloping hers, the ache in her chest only grew. She could see it—the way his eyes held guilt masked by affection, secrets hidden behind his gentle demeanor. She longed to trust him again. Oh, how she wished she could. But the storm of truth and betrayal raging within her made that impossible.
So she didn't say a word. She simply nodded.
It was the kind of nod that didn't convey trust.
It said, I heard you.
That was all she could give at that moment.
Blaze watched her for a moment longer, and then, almost reluctantly, he leaned in. His lips brushed against her forehead—a gentle, lingering kiss. The kind that spoke volumes without uttering a single word. The kind that made her heart ache because it used to mean everything.
He pulled back slowly, taking in every detail of her face as if he were trying to memorize it all over again. His hand slipped away from hers gently.
"Go on," he said softly. "I'll see you tonight."
She turned away without another word. Her heels clicked against the pavement, her coat trailing behind her, as she walked—head held high—toward the hospital's glass entrance. With each step, she created more distance between them. Between the past and the pain. Between the girl who once believed and the woman who now knew better.
Blaze didn't move.
He stood there, watching her walk away, his hands clenching into fists at his sides as he witnessed the love of his life leave him once more. He couldn't stop her. He never could.
When she finally disappeared through the hospital doors, swallowed by the building and the world inside, Blaze let out a shaky breath.
Only then did he turn back toward the car.
He slid into the driver's seat and closed the door, the silence inside feeling suffocating.
His gaze lingered once more on the entrance she had vanished through.
Then he drove off—slowly, quietly—carrying a weight that not even the roaring engine could drown out.
The hallway outside Savannah's office was quiet, except for the distant hum of machines and the soft chatter from the nurses' station nearby. It was almost lunchtime, and Savannah had just stood up from her desk, grabbing her coat, planning to take a quick breath of fresh air outside before diving back into her day.
SLAM!
The door burst open with a sudden, breath-stealing force.
She turned around, startled, her eyes widening in disbelief as she recognized the woman standing in the doorway.
Clad in a simple yet elegant white floral dress, embellished with delicate blue flowers, the woman seemed both out of place and hauntingly familiar in the stark, clinical environment of Savannah's hospital office.
For a moment, Savannah was speechless—she couldn't even catch her breath as the name echoed in her mind.
Anastasia.
Her closests friend. Once a comforting presence, now a ghost from a chaotic past.
"You—what—" Savannah stammered, but before Anastasia could say anything, Savannah acted on pure instinct.
She stepped forward, grasped Anastasia's wrist firmly, and pulled her out of the room without offering any explanation. The urgency in her stride left no room for protest. Anastasia struggled to keep up, her heels clicking sharply against the sterile floor.
The hallway seemed to stretch endlessly, Savannah's heart racing with each step. Her grip remained unyielding.
At the far end, she spotted a private consultation room—one rarely used by anyone but the staff. She pushed the door open, yanked Anastasia inside, and shut it behind them with a decisive click.
She locked it.
The silence that followed felt heavy and suffocating.
"What are you doing here, Anastasia?" Savannah asked, her voice trembling with a mix of concern and disbelief. Her brows knitted tightly together, her eyes darting across her friend's face as if searching for proof that this was real and not some trick of her mind.
"I came to see how you were doing," Anastasia replied softly, rubbing her wrist where Savannah's grip had left a mark.
"Why?" Savannah's voice sharpened, pain creeping into her words. "Why would you risk everything to come here? Don't you want to live a normal life for once? With your husband? Your child?"
"I do," Anastasia said, her voice steady as she tried to soothe her friend. "I'm living it, Sav. But I just couldn't stay away. I needed to know you were okay."
"Do you even realize how reckless this is?" Savannah shot back, frustration bubbling over. "Do you even know what Blaze is capable of? He-" She broke off, pacing the small room, her arms folded across her chest like armor. "He watches everything. If he finds out you're here-"
"I know," Anastasia interrupted softly, her eyes filled with understanding. "More than you realize."
Her voice lowered, trembling with the weight of painful memories. "I remember it all, Savannah. The fear. The silence. The feeling of being powerless. I can't stand the thought of you going through this."
Savannah felt a lump form in her throat. She turned away from her friend, staring at the floor as her fingers gripped her arms tightly.
"I want to help you," Anastasia said, taking a step closer. "That's why I'm here. I couldn't sleep knowing you're trapped with him. I want you safe, Sav. I'll do whatever it takes."
Savannah slowly turned toward her again, and when she met Anastasia's eyes, something within her cracked. The mask she had been holding up for months-the strength, the quiet resistance, the cold detachment-began to crumble.
Her lips quivered. Her throat felt tight.
Tears, ones she hadn't realized she still had in her, welled up in her eyes. And before she could hold them back, they fell—soft, silent, and heavy with emotion.
"I didn't realize," Savannah whispered, voice broken, "how much I was holding in."
Anastasia didn't respond with words. Instead, she stepped forward and enveloped her in a warm, tight hug.
Savannah melted into it, finally allowing herself to be held. The tears flowed more freely now, sobs muffled against her friend's shoulder as Anastasia wrapped her arms around her protectively.
"We'll get you out of this," Anastasia murmured into her hair. "I promise. No more running alone. You have me now."
And in that quiet room-locked away from the world, from watchful eyes and dangerous men-two friends stood in silence. One breaking, the other holding her together.
And somewhere in Savannah's chest, a fragile glimmer of hope began to stir.
Author's Note :
Thankyou for reading<3
Have a good day/night<3<3