Chapter 61 61

Chapter 61 61
“Azxel, wake up…” The voice came from far away, fractured, like it was traveling through water. Then another voice layered on top, softer, familiar.

“Zel… come on, open your eyes…”

Azxel’s eyelids fluttered open, white light stabbed in, too bright. The machines beeped steadily beside him. His throat felt dry, his body heavy, like it belonged to someone else.

He blinked and Jaelen’s face swam into view, his eyes were puffy and red, his hair was messy, sitting right beside the bed, his hand wrapped around Azxel’s.

“Jae…” Azxel’s voice cracked, barely a whisper.

Jaelen’s breath caught. He leaned closer, his thumb brushing Azxel’s knuckles. “Hey, hey, I’m here, you’re okay.”

Azxel tried to sit up, but pain shot through his head. He winced and fell back against the pillow. He looked around, the white walls, the IV line in his arm, and the heart monitor beeping told him he was in a hospital room.

“What… what happened?” Azxel’s voice trembled. “Why am I here?”

Jaelen swallowed hard, he kept his grip gentle. “You… you had a breakdown. A bad one and you collapsed, the doctors said it was exhaustion, trauma response, and panic attack that wouldn’t stop. You’ve been out for almost two days.”

Azxel’s eyes filled fast. “Two days?”

Jaelen nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been here the whole time.”

Azxel’s lip quivered as memories crashed in flashes. Memories of him running, shouting, blood, Sky’s smirk, his father’s body, Jaelen fainting, him pushing Jaelen, him scolding Jaelen, him Pushing his boyfriend of two years away, his chest seized.

“I hurt you,” Azxel choked out. “I… I let him take over. I hurt everyone, I’m sorry, Jae. I’m so sorry.”

Jaelen shook his head quickly. “No, stop. You didn’t hurt me, you were sick, and you didn’t mean to let him take over, ok? Zel. That wasn’t you.”

Azxel’s tears spilled over. He reached out his already weakened arms, grabbing Jaelen’s shirt, he pulled him down. Jaelen went willingly, climbed onto the narrow bed, wrapped both arms around Azxel tight.

Azxel buried his face in Jaelen’s neck, sobbing hard. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry I let Sky… I let him hurt you. I forgot you, I forgot us. I’m so sorry, baby…”

Jaelen held him tighter, cradling his hand at the back of Azxel’s head. “Shh….. It’s okay, it wasn’t your fault. None of it was your fault.”

Azxel cried harder, his body shaking. “I thought he was real. I thought… I needed him, I didn’t know it was just me… just me breaking. I hurt you, i hurt my mum, I hurt everyone, i even killed dad—”

Jaelen pulled back just enough to cup Azxel’s face, using his thumps to wipe away the tears falling. “Listen to me baby, you had a split personality, ok? You didn’t mean to worry, you’re here now, you’re back to yourself. You see me as your Jae, your boyfriend, that means you’re back.”

Azxel hiccupped, his eyes wide and wet. “I made him up because I couldn’t handle losing people. I’m so sorry, Jae. I love you, i always loved you. I just… forgot.”

Jaelen’s own eyes filled. He pressed his forehead to Azxel’s. “I know. I know, baby. I never stopped loving you, not for one second, even when you forgot me. I stayed and I’ll always stay.”

Azxel clung to him, sobbing into his shoulder. “Don’t let me go back there. Don’t let him come back.”

Jaelen rocked him gently. “He won’t. You’re stronger now, you just hold my hand. You say my name. Jae. Just Jae. Okay?”

Azxel nodded against his neck. “Okay. Jae.”
Jaelen kissed his temple. “Good. That’s good.”

They stayed like that, tangled on the hospital bed, Azxel crying himself out, Jaelen holding him steady.

After a long time Azxel’s sobs quieted to hiccups. He pulled back a little, looked at Jaelen with red, swollen eyes.
“I’m exhausted,” Azxel whispered.

Jaelen smiled soft. “I know, rest. I’m not going anywhere.”

Azxel laid his head back on Jaelen’s chest. Listened to his heartbeat and closed his eyes as Jaelen rubbed slow circles on his back.

“You’re safe,” Jaelen murmured.

The door opened quietly. Azxel’s mother stepped inside, her steps soft and hesitant like she was scared to see her son. She had a plastic bag in one hand, probably food and a basket of fruit beside the bag, her other hand pressed to her chest like she was holding her heart in place. Her eyes landed on the bed first.

Azxel was curled into Jaelen’s side, his face tucked against Jaelen’s neck, breathing slowly and even in sleep. Jaelen’s arm was wrapped protectively around him, resting his chin on top of Azxel’s head, his eyes were closed but not fully asleep, it was more like he was resting while still guarding.

She froze in the doorway. Her lips trembled, tears filled her eyes instantly, spilling over before she could stop them. She covered her mouth with her hand, muffling the small, broken sob that escaped.

She stood there, watching them, she was happy to see her son finally leaning in to his boyfriend, finally breathing without panic. The boy who had screamed at Jaelen, who had pushed everyone away… was here sleeping safely in his boyfriend’s arms.

A sob left her lips again, harder this time. She pressed her hand tighter over her mouth, she didn’t want to wake them. But Jaelen stirred slightly, cracking his eyes open.

He saw the tears in her eyes and her  hand over her mouth as she struggled not to make noose. He gave her a small, tired nod like he was acknowledging her. He tightened his arm around Azxel a fraction, like he was saying he’s okay, stay quiet.

She nodded back, tears streaming freely from her face, she wiped her face with her sleeve, took one last long look at her son’s peaceful, breathing and backed out slowly.

The door clicked shut behind her, softly.
In the hallway, she leaned against the wall, sliding down until she sat on the floor. She hugged her knees, crying silently into her arms.

A nurse walked past, paused, then crouched beside her. “Ma’am? Are you alright?”

Azxel’s mother looked up, wiping her face with a smile. “Yes.”

The nurse smiled gently. “That’s good.”

A doctor approached them, he had been the one monitoring Azxel’s vitals. “He’s stable,” the doctor said quietly, crouching too. “His brain activity is normal now, the panic attack exhausted him, but the worst is over. He’s responding well and his memory seems to be settling. The split personality episodes… they may still happen, but he’s aware now. That’s the turning point.”

Azxel’s mother nodded, tears threatening to fall out her face. The doctor placed a hand on her shoulder. “That’s progress, you just have to let him rest. He’ll need long term therapy but he’s not lost anymore.”

She wiped her face again. “Thank you.”

The doctor stood. “He can be discharged in a few days if he stays stable. We’ll monitor him, you can go back in whenever you’re ready.”

She shook her head. “Not yet, let them sleep. They need it.”

The doctor nodded, and walked away.