For the first time in weeks, Olivia felt silence. Not the kind that suffocated or weighed heavy on her chest—but the kind that allowed her to breathe. The rain had stopped, leaving the streets slick and reflective. Morning light filtered through the window, touching everything with a soft gold.
Kael had fallen asleep on the sofa, his hoodie bunched beneath his head, his breath steady and slow. There was something oddly peaceful about seeing him so still, stripped of the fire and storm that usually followed him. In sleep, he looked almost innocent—like the boy she'd first met in the poetry café, quoting Neruda and stealing her heart with a crooked smile.
She watched him for a moment longer before slipping into the kitchen to make coffee. The kettle hissed and clicked as it boiled. The scent of Arabica beans filled the air—dark, bitter, grounding. She needed grounding.
There were still too many questions clawing at the inside of her chest.
What did it mean that Aiden had walked away so quietly? What did it mean that Kael had stayed?
Her phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn't a message from Aiden.
MUM: "I had another episode last night. I'm fine. Just dizzy. Call when you can."
Olivia closed her eyes and sighed.
Her mother's health had been failing slowly, quietly, in the background of everything. A string of little collapses, forgotten prescriptions, and late-night emergency calls. It was the one part of Olivia's life that none of the boys could save her from—something she had to carry alone.
She poured two mugs of coffee and brought one to Kael.
He stirred, blinking into the light. "Smells like heaven."
"You're dramatic," she teased.
"Only about coffee." He sat up and accepted the mug with both hands. "You didn't sleep?"
"Barely."
He watched her carefully. "You okay?"
"No. But I'm functioning. Which is… something."
He nodded, understanding without pressing. That was one of the few things about Kael she had always appreciated—he didn't force her to speak before she was ready.
After a long sip, she said, "My mum had another episode last night."
Concern flared in his eyes. "Do you want me to go with you?"
She hesitated. "No. This one I have to face alone."
He didn't argue. "Text me when you get there, okay?"
She nodded.
Hours later, she sat beside her mother in the small NHS hospital room. The air smelled like antiseptic and weak tea. Her mother's face was pale but alert. The IV in her arm was slow-dripping, rhythmic.
"You look exhausted, baby," her mum said, brushing a hand over Olivia's curls.
"I'm fine," she lied. "Just… a lot going on."
Her mother smiled weakly. "It's that boy again, isn't it?"
"Which one?"
Her mum raised an eyebrow. "Don't play coy with me. The one who hurt you."
Olivia smiled faintly. "He's back."
"And you let him back in?"
"I don't know if I let him in… or if I never really closed the door."
Her mother sighed. "You always did love too deeply."
"Is that a flaw?"
"No. It's dangerous. But it's also beautiful."
They sat in silence for a moment before her mother added, "Just promise me you won't lose yourself again. You did, last time. You dimmed your light to chase his shadow."
Olivia felt those words in her bones.
"I promise," she said softly.
Later, she returned home to find Kael cleaning her bookshelf.
"You rearranged my poetry," she accused.
"I alphabetised them. You're welcome."
"Monster."
He grinned. "You look tired."
"She's stable. But tired too."
He came to her and wrapped his arms around her without hesitation. She folded into him, resting her cheek against his chest.
"You know," he said, "I don't want to be the reason you fall apart again."
"Then don't be."
He pulled back, looking into her eyes. "Can we try something new? A fresh start?"
She tilted her head. "Like what?"
"No lies. No running. No disappearing. Just… us. Present. Messy. Honest."
Olivia thought about it. She thought about rainy days and lonely nights and whispered apologies. She thought about how it felt to be kissed by someone who understood your shadows. She thought about healing, not through forgetting, but by choosing again.
"I can't promise I won't get scared," she whispered.
Kael smiled gently. "Then I'll hold your hand when you do."