Chapter 184

Chapter 184
Madilyn’s POV

"I don’t think he’s going to make it," someone says softly, their voice quiet and full of sadness.

Mason.

My heart stops when I hear his name. My eyes snap open all at once, and the sharp, clean smell of medicine hits my nose. I blink quickly, trying to understand where I am.

White walls surround me. The room is bright, filled with sunlight, but everything feels distant and cold. I look down and see I’m lying in a hospital bed. The sheets are clean and white. Machines beep steadily at my side. My arms feel heavy, and when I lift them, I see tubes connected to me.

Every movement hurts, but I sit up slowly, my body aching with each shift.

Then, I spot a mirror on the wall. My own reflection stares back at me—my face is pale, covered in spots of soot, and my hair is messy, but I’m alive.

I made it out.

But Mason...?

I hear two nurses talking quietly near the back of the room.

"His injuries are just too serious," one of them whispers to the other. "I don’t think he’ll survive the night."

My heart clenches painfully inside my chest. My breathing becomes sharp.

They’re talking about Mason. They have to be.

I don’t wait. I don’t think. I pull out the tubes connected to my arms. My fingers shake, but I manage to climb out of the bed. I feel pain in every part of my body, but I don’t care. I need to see him. I need to be by his side.

Slowly, I shuffle across the room to the bed next to mine.

And then I see him.

Mason.

His chest is wrapped tightly in thick white bandages. His skin is too pale. His eyes are closed, and he lies so still that for a moment I can’t breathe. He looks so fragile, so unlike the strong man I know. My legs give out beneath me, and I sink into the chair next to him.

Tears begin to blur my eyes as I reach for his hand and hold it gently.

"You shouldn’t have saved me," I whisper. My voice cracks as I speak. "You didn’t deserve this. You didn’t have to go through that pain… not for me."

My fingers softly brush his knuckles. His hand is warm, but it doesn’t move.

A tear slips down my cheek. Then another. My voice is shaking as I continue.

"I love you, Mason. I should’ve said it earlier. I should’ve said it every day." I take a deep breath. "I love you so much. Without you, I feel lost."

I look down, unable to stop the tears. My hand tightens around his. I lean my forehead against his arm and whisper, "Please wake up. Please. Ariana needs you. I need you. I don’t know how to do this without you."

The machines beside his bed keep beeping quietly. They don’t care about my fear, my pain, or my tears.

"I promise," I whisper, my voice filled with desperation. "If you open your eyes, I’ll make things right. I’ll love you like you deserve. I won’t let anything get in the way again. I’ll hold your hand through everything."

I cry quietly, my shoulders shaking. The room feels heavy, filled with my sorrow.

And then, I hear it.

A voice. Familiar and warm.

"So... it took me nearly dying for you to finally say you love me?"

I freeze.

Slowly, I lift my head.

Mason is looking at me.

His blue eyes are open—tired, but bright. Alive.

My breath catches in my throat. "Mason?"

He gives me a faint smile, the corners of his lips lifting just slightly. "Yeah. Still here. You cry really loud, by the way. I couldn’t sleep."

A surprised laugh escapes me, mixing with a sob. I wipe my cheeks quickly and lean over him. "You’re awake. You’re okay."

"Well, not totally okay," he says softly, "but I’m alive."

"You scared me so badly," I whisper. "I thought I lost you. I thought I’d never get the chance to say... to say..."

"You love me?" he finishes with a smirk. "Yeah. I caught that part."

"I do," I whisper. "So much."

His hand reaches up, brushing gently against my face. "I love you too, Madilyn."

My heart feels full for the first time in a long time.

"I thought the nurses meant you," I tell him. "I thought... I thought you were going to..."

"I know," he says, nodding. "But they weren’t talking about me. I'm a little beat up, but I’ll be fine."

I lean in closer, placing my hand over his heart. "Don’t ever do that again."

He smiles. "I’ll try not to walk into any more burning houses. But to be fair, you were in there."

I laugh, even through my tears. "You’re ridiculous."

"But you love me anyway."

"I do."

He gently tugs me closer, and I rest my head on his chest. His heart beats beneath my ear. Strong. Steady.

"You really had me believing..." I trail off.

He kisses the top of my head. "I’m sorry, baby. I couldn’t let you go through this alone."

I sniffle and pull back to look into his eyes. "Thank you. For saving me. For loving me. For coming back for me."

"You don’t have to thank me," he whispers. "I’d do it again. A hundred times."

We sit in silence for a while, just holding each other, letting the weight of everything sink in.

And as the machines beep steadily beside us, I know one thing for sure.

Love brought us through the fire.

And love will carry us forward.