Adrian sat silently in the chair next to the bed, his eyes fixed on Elena’s pale face. Her breathing was shallow, and even wrapped in a blanket, she trembled faintly. The image of her jumping into the icy pool flashed through his mind again, and a wave of frustration and helplessness swept over him. How could she allow herself to reach such a breaking point? He had always thought of her as a distant, reserved girl, but now, watching her fragile state, he realized how little he truly knew about the struggles she was hiding.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, running a hand through his hair. “She’s dealing with all this and still manages to show up every day,” he muttered to himself, his voice tinged with disbelief and anger. How could someone carry so much pain and still pretend like everything was fine? It infuriated him-her silence, her stubbornness, her refusal to let anyone in.
A faint movement drew his attention back to her. Elena stirred, her eyes fluttering open slowly. She blinked, her gaze unfocused, before she looked around in confusion. “Adrian?” she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Adrian was on his feet in an instant, moving closer. “Elena,” he said softly, his tone firm but laced with worry. “How are you feeling?”
She shifted under the blanket, avoiding his gaze. “I’m fine,” she whispered, her voice shaky and unconvincing.
“Fine?” Adrian’s voice rose slightly, his frustration spilling over. He stepped back, running a hand down his face. “You call this fine, Elena? Do you even realize what you put yourself through tonight?”
Elena flinched at his tone, her lips pressing into a thin line as tears welled in her eyes. She said nothing, but the weight of his words hung heavily in the air. Adrian exhaled deeply, forcing himself to calm down. He knelt beside her, his hand resting lightly on the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice softening. “I didn’t mean to yell. But you scared me, Elena. You scared the hell out of me. Do you have any idea how terrified I was seeing you like that?”
Her lips trembled, and the tears spilled over. “I just… I didn’t know what else to do,” she choked out, her voice breaking.
Adrian’s heart twisted at the sight of her tears. He reached out hesitantly, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You could have come to me,” he said, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “You don’t have to face this alone.”
Elena shook her head, her shoulders trembling as she sobbed. “You wouldn’t understand,” she whispered. “No one does. I’m just… I’m just a failure. I can’t keep going like this.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened. He gripped her shoulders gently but firmly, forcing her to look at him. “Don’t you dare say that,” he said, his voice low but commanding. “You’re not a failure, Elena. Do you hear me? You’re strong. Stronger than anyone I know.”
She looked at him through tear-filled eyes, her expression crumbling. “I don’t feel strong,” she said, her voice trembling. “I feel broken.”
Adrian’s face softened, and his own eyes glistened with unshed tears. “You’re not broken,” he said quietly. “You’re just carrying too much. But you don’t have to carry it alone anymore.”
For a moment, the room was silent except for her quiet sobs. Adrian stayed kneeling beside her, his hand still on her shoulder. “I need you to trust me,” he said finally. “I know it’s not easy, but I want to help you. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out. Together.”
Elena hesitated, her gaze dropping to her lap. Her voice was barely above a whisper when she said, “I don’t know how to start.”
Adrian offered her a small, reassuring smile. “We’ll start together,” he said. “One step at a time. But you have to promise me something.”
She looked up at him, her expression wary but curious. “What?”
“You have to promise me that you won’t do anything like this again,” he said firmly. “No more pushing yourself to the edge. No more trying to handle everything on your own. If something’s wrong, you come to me. No matter what.”
Elena hesitated, her fingers twisting nervously in the blanket. Finally, she nodded. “I promise,” she said softly.
Adrian exhaled in relief, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “Good,” he said, standing up. “Now, get some rest. You need it.”
As he turned to leave, a buzzing sound caught his attention. He glanced at the nightstand and saw Elena’s phone vibrating with an incoming message. His eyes narrowed as he read the preview on the screen. His jaw clenched, and a cold, determined look crossed his face.
He turned back to Elena, who was already drifting off to sleep again. “We’re going to figure this out,” he murmured, more to himself than to her. “And no one is going to hurt you again.”
Adrian stared at the phone for a long moment, the preview of the message etched into his mind. He didn’t want to invade her privacy, but the small snippet he’d read was enough to confirm that Elena was dealing with far more than she had let on. His chest tightened, a mix of guilt and frustration swirling within him. He had spent so much time being a bystander, observing her struggles but never truly digging deeper. Now, it felt as if he’d been blind to the cracks beneath her composed exterior.
He placed the phone back on the nightstand and returned to the chair next to the bed. For the first time, he allowed himself to take in the depth of her exhaustion. Her usually bright eyes were dull, her face pale, and her body seemed frail under the thick blanket. She looked so small, so vulnerable. It was a stark contrast to the determined, guarded girl he had come to know.
Adrian leaned back in the chair, his thoughts racing. He couldn’t shake the anger he felt-not at her, but at the situation that had pushed her to this point. What kind of world had she been navigating alone? Why hadn’t she asked for help? But then, he understood. Elena wasn’t the type to lean on others. She kept everything bottled up, protecting her pain like a secret she couldn’t afford to share.
A soft sigh escaped her lips, pulling him from his thoughts. He glanced at her again, noticing how her fingers clutched the edge of the blanket, even in her sleep. It was as if she was holding onto it for dear life, seeking a sense of security she couldn’t find elsewhere. Adrian felt a pang of sorrow. She had been drowning silently, and no one-not even him-had noticed until it was almost too late.
The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the heater. Adrian’s thoughts drifted back to the pool. He could still see her in the icy water, her body trembling as if she wanted to let go of everything. The image was burned into his memory, and it made his stomach churn. He had felt helpless in that moment, but now, he resolved that he wouldn’t let her reach such a breaking point again.
Adrian stood abruptly, his jaw tightening. He couldn’t sit idle anymore. There were too many unanswered questions, too many pieces of the puzzle he didn’t yet understand. He walked over to the window, staring out into the dark night. His reflection stared back at him, the furrow in his brow deep and his expression tense.
He turned back toward Elena. “I don’t know everything you’re dealing with,” he whispered, his voice soft but resolute. “But I swear, I’ll do whatever it takes to help you. You’re not alone in this anymore.”
His words hung in the air, a silent promise he intended to keep. He sank back into the chair, his gaze never leaving her. As the hours passed, he kept watch, refusing to let her out of his sight. When her breathing evened out and her face relaxed into a peaceful expression, Adrian allowed himself a moment of relief. She was safe for now.
As the night stretched on, Adrian’s thoughts turned inward. He couldn’t ignore the pull he felt toward Elena, the need to protect her from everything threatening to break her. It was more than just a concern for a student; it was personal. Somewhere along the line, she had become someone he couldn’t ignore, someone who mattered far more than he cared to admit. The realization was both unsettling and undeniable.
He rubbed his hands over his face, exhaustion creeping in. But sleep was the last thing on his mind. His focus remained entirely on Elena and the storm she was clearly battling. He didn’t know how long it would take to gain her trust, to help her navigate through whatever darkness she was facing, but he was determined to try. For the first time in years, Adrian felt a sense of purpose beyond his own world-a need to be there for someone else, no matter what it cost him.
The faint glow of dawn began to creep through the window, casting a soft light across the room. Adrian glanced at his watch, realizing he had been awake all night. He looked back at Elena, who was still fast asleep, her breathing steady. His heart ached for her, but it also steeled his resolve. Today would be the start of something new. He wouldn’t let her slip away, not again.
He stood, stretching his stiff muscles, and walked quietly to the kitchen. He decided to make coffee and prepare something simple for breakfast. As the smell of brewing coffee filled the air, he allowed himself to think about the next steps. He needed answers about her family, her struggles, and everything she was keeping locked inside. But more importantly, he needed to show her that she could rely on him.
Returning to the room with a cup of coffee in hand, he set it down on the nightstand. Adrian sat back in the chair and waited, his mind already crafting plans to help her. The weight of responsibility pressed on his shoulders, but for once, he welcomed it. Whatever it took, he would ensure Elena found her way out of the darkness.