"Well, uh, the main character, she's urm," I stutter over my words, internally berating myself for getting so flustered.
A short, gruff sort of chuckle startles me, drawing me out of my panicked state as my eyes whip back over to Jaylen, seeing his mouth open again and his eyes filled with mirth as he watches me.
"Oh, my. D-did you just laugh?" I ask, putting the book down in my lap as I lean forward, staring at him in shock and disbelief.
His eyes widen and he quickly blinks.
"You didn't realise it was out loud did you?"
He blinks twice.
"I heard it," I state, gaping at him. "You laughed. It wasn't a proper laugh, but it was still something. Holy shit, this is amazing! I need to go and get Markus."
I stand from the chair, placing my book down on it and then head towards the door before remembering that it's late in the evening and Markus has probably already gone home.
Turning back to Jaylen, I see a panicked, almost frightened look on his face as he glances between me and the door.
"Markus has probably already gone home," I tell him quietly, stepping back towards his bed and watching as the fearful look on his face starts to diminish. "I'll just write it down in your notes and also inform him in the morning."
I walk back over to the chair, pick up my book and then sit down beside him.
"Why don't you try and get some rest? You've done a lot today. I can't imagine how exhausted you must be. If you want, I can stay with you until you fall asleep?"
I'm not sure why I'm offering to stay later, considering I'm already paranoid about being on a bus late at night in a new city and having to walk from the bus stop to my new apartment in the dark, but after seeing how scared he looked when I went to leave the room, sadness seeped into my bones and I couldn't imagine myself leaving him alone.
He blinks at me and his lips twitch as I think he tries to smile at me before his eyes flutter closed.
I watch him for a few moments, my eyes scanning his softened features and I find myself smiling over at him as I flick open my book and settle into the chair beside his bed, prepared to spend the next few hours losing myself in a fictional world I wished I could be a part of.
Chapter Nine
Rory
When my phone vibrates, notifying me that my shift is finally over, I tuck the thin blanket around Jaylen's sleeping form, ensuring he's comfortable and warm, then creep silently out of his room, hoping not to disturb him.
I carry the paperback under my arm and stroll through the quiet corridors, smiling sweetly at the few other nurses I pass on the way to the staff room, adamant on getting everything from my locker before starting the long trek home to the small one-bedroom apartment that Chrissie managed to sort out for me.
When I reach my locker, I wrench it open, pull out my jacket, and set it on the bench behind me, then grab my bag and shove my book inside of it.
As I'm about to close the metal door, I see a small square piece of paper sitting at the bottom of my locker and I frown at it as my heart picks up it's pace inside my chest, beating loudly.
You're just being paranoid, Aurora.
It's not from him.
He doesn't know where you are.
I reach a clammy hand forward and pluck the paper from my locker, slowly unfolding it until I can see the words scrawled across it.
Didn't want to disturb you before I left, so I've emailed over your time sheet with your shifts for the remainder of the week. Will try and catch you at some point tomorrow to discuss if you're happy with it!
— Markus
My shoulders slump and I take a heaving breath as I wipe my sweaty palms along my trouser legs, shaking my head at myself.
"Stupid idiot," I mutter, berating myself for getting so panicked about a note in my locker.
Of course it wouldn't have been anything to worry about.
