Chapter 275: Love like theirs..

We didn’t speak much longer after that. There wasn’t much left to say that hadn’t already been said. I thanked him quietly and ended the call, slipping the phone back into my pocket just as Alan came around the corner, arms full of a small duffel and a bag of things I recognized as hers.

“Are you people leaving now?” Alan asked, holding the bag out to me.

I hummed, taking it from him. “I don’t think I can stomach staying in this city much longer. And Indigo will really appreciate a good scenery.”

Somewhere far from hospital corridors and kitchens stained with memory.

He nodded, then threw a glance through the glass toward her, still fixed in the same position. “Is she going to be okay?”

That question again. But this time, I answered it with a certainty I hadn’t had before. She would be. Even if it was the last thing I did on this earth, I would make sure she got her spark back, whatever it cost me, however far I had to go to find it for her.

“She will,” was all I said. Then I turned my eyes fully to him. “Where will you go?”

Alan let out a long breath. “Think I’ll go see my family. Haven’t seen them in a while.”

Something in me sank at that, unexpectedly, the news landing heavier than I would have guessed. I hadn’t even liked the man when we first met, one of life’s stranger ironies, that he’d become someone whose absence already felt like a loss before he’d even left. “She’ll miss you, you know,” I said. “You sure you don’t want to say goodbye to her?”

“Nah.” He shook his head. “Not now. Besides, I’m not leaving her. Already told her that. Wherever you two end up, I’ll find you.” His eyes met mine, steady and serious. “Just take care of her, man. You two are made for each other, and if anyone can bring her back from this, it’s you.” Then he turned toward the glass again, toward Indigo still fixed in that same unmoving position, his eyes taking on a glassy sheen. “I never pushed for love, or romance, or any of that. Always thought it was a waste of time.” His voice dropped, quieter now. “But watching how much you two love each other, the things you’ve both sacrificed just to keep each other safe and in each other’s lives — I found myself wanting it. For the first time in my life, I wanted a love like that. It’s not every day you get to watch two people willing to die for each other the way you both have.”

The more he spoke, the tighter my throat grew, something raw and unexpected building behind my sternum. Alan had never been a man of many words, let alone words like these, and hearing them now, delivered so plainly, so honestly, undid something in me I hadn’t braced myself for. I set the bag down slowly and closed the distance between us, pulling him into a hug before either of us could talk ourselves out of the sincerity of the moment.

“Thank you,” I said against his shoulder, my voice barely holding together. “For everything. For her. For finding her when I couldn’t. For staying when you didn’t have to.” I pulled back enough to look him in the eye. “You’re not just her friend, Alan. You’re family now. Don’t you dare disappear on us.”

He huffed a wet laugh, clapping me hard on the back before stepping away, swiping quickly at his own eyes like he could pretend I hadn’t seen it.

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t get soft on me now, Fabian.”

He hitched his bag higher on his shoulder, glanced once more through the glass at Indigo, and gave a small, private nod, like he was saying something to her that didn’t need words. Then he turned and walked down the hallway, and I stood there watching him go until he disappeared around the corner, feeling, for the first time in days, like maybe we really would be okay.

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These chapters truly broke my heart to write. I’m really going to miss Alan and Indigo’s duo.

As we count down to the end of Fabian and Indigo’s story, I just want to say thank you for all the love and support. You all own a huge piece of my heart.

Please keep adding the book to your libraries and keep commenting. I appreciate every single one of you. ❤️