A deep breath did nothing to ease my nerves. I didn't want to go. Leaving Rowan behind made my skin crawl, but I couldn't do anything else tonight. He needed rest, and I needed at least a few hours to crash myself before my body gave out on me.
I stuffed my phone back into my pocket and started the walk back to my room. I'd try to sleep for a little while, then head to Rowan's building in the morning. Mrs Cavanagh needed to know what was going on. I'd update her that Rowan would be in hospital for a while and ask her to let me know when he came home. I knew she'd also keep an eye out for anything suspicious.
The thought of Marcus trying to get to Rowan again knotted my stomach. If that bastard so much as set foot in Rowan's space, there wouldn't be enough of him left for the cops to arrest.
I gritted my teeth and forced my steps to stay even. I couldn't lose my head quite yet. I had to keep it together and be there for Rowan when he was ready. I didn't blame him one bit for lashing out. But as soon as he was home, I was coming right back.
He didn't get to push me away. Not this time.
Rowan
18
Leaving the hospital felt surreal. I'd spent enough time in that small, sterile room that stepping outside was like waking up from a nightmare. The world had moved on without me, and I was stepping back into a life I barely recognised.
I didn't want to get a taxi. I argued with the staff that I could walk, but they refused to let me out on my own. One of the nurses called for the car herself and made sure it pulled right up to the entrance before she let me go. It frustrated me at first, but as I settled into the back seat, every ache and bruise flared up.
I wouldn't have made it far on foot. I could barely see where I was going, anyway.
Thankfully, the driver didn't ask questions. He glanced at me once in the mirror and seemed to understand I wasn't in the mood to talk. I kept my head down, cradling my ribs as I tried to ignore how my pulse kicked up every time the car slowed down. I couldn't shake the feeling that Marcus was out there somewhere, just waiting for his chance to corner me again.
The ride was a short one, but by the time we pulled up to my building, I wasn't sure whether to be relieved or terrified. My flat was supposed to be home, and right now, it felt more like a minefield.
I thanked the driver and carefully climbed out of the car, my hands shaking more than I wanted to admit. As I stepped onto the kerb, I felt the reality creep in at how much had changed in just a single week.
I took a slow breath to steady myself and made my way to the entrance. My legs felt like they might give out any second, but I pushed through it. I just had to make it inside. Once I was in my flat, I could lock the door, pull the curtains, and pretend I was safe for a little while.
I stared at the staircase that loomed ahead of me. It wasn't a lot of stairs, but it might as well have been a mountain. I clutched the railing, pulling myself up one slow step at a time. My ribs complained every time I tried to draw in air, and my legs felt heavier with each movement.
I must've looked pitiful.
At the top of the stairwell, I had to stop to catch my breath. I couldn't even stand up straight and had to lean on the wall for support. The pain in my chest made it difficult to breathe, but I forced each inhale to stay slow and steady as I tried to calm the pounding from my heart.
When I straightened and turned toward my door, I heard her voice.
"Rowan, dear!"
I looked up, startled to see Mrs Cavanagh step out of her flat and approach me. Her large glasses glinted in the dim light of the hallway, and even though I couldn't clearly make out her face until she got closer, her worry was unmistakable.
"You're back from hospital?" Her words were gentle, but there was a firmness to them, too.
My throat tightened, but I managed a small smile. "Yeah... Just got back."
Her eyes narrowed as she scanned my face. I wasn't used to this kind of attention from her. We'd exchanged pleasantries in the hall over the years, but I'd always kept mydistance. Now, though, she didn't hesitate. She reached out, and her hand rested gently against my cheek as she examined the stitches with a sharp gaze.
"That snake," she muttered, her voice low but laced with anger. "If I'd known what he was doing to you, I'd have dragged him out by his ears. Ishould'veknown. I saw him rush out of here like the devil was on his heels."
I opened my mouth, unsure how to respond. "I – "
She cut me off with a shake of her head. "Don't even try to downplay it. I was here when Elias found you, and I thought my heart was going to give out seeing you like that. You're lucky he showed up when he did."
I swallowed around the guilt that lodged in my throat. "Yeah..."
She sighed, and her tone quieted. "That boy carried you all the way to A&E, you know. Didn't even think of waiting for a taxi or ambulance. Just picked you up and started walking. Stubborn as an ox, that one."
Wait. What? Eli carried me?
The visual made something twist in my chest. The hospital wasn't that far, but it was still several streets away. For someone who spent his days behind a camera, Eli had more physical strength than I ever gave him credit for.
