One Valentine's Day

Maya was still lost in the storm of her own emotions, struggling to make sense of what she truly felt when suddenly, her mother burst into her room, breathless and shaken.

“Maya,” she said urgently, her voice laced with panic. “Liam had an accident. He’s in critical condition at the hospital.”

Maya’s breath caught in her throat as the words sank in. Her heart pounded, disbelief flooding her veins.

“No… this can’t be true,” she whispered, shaking her head as if denying it would make it unreal. Panic surged through her. She looked at her mother, her voice breaking.

“Take me to the hospital. Now.”

The hospital was a blur of hurried footsteps, machines, and voices that faded into the background as Maya focused on one thing—Liam. When she finally saw him, lying so still, so fragile, she couldn’t believe it. The sight of his pale face, once full of life and warmth, sent a sharp pain through her chest.

Maya sank into the chair beside him, her fingers trembling as she reached out but stopped just short of touching him. A sob escaped her lips, then another, until she could no longer hold back the flood of emotions.

Tears streamed down her face as she cried, her sobs filling the silent room. “Liam…” she choked out, her voice breaking. The weight of everything—her feelings, her regrets, her fear of losing him—came crashing down all at once.

Through her tears, Maya reached for Liam’s hand, gripping it tightly as if her touch alone could bring him back to her. His warmth was faint, but it was there—it was enough.

“You don’t know, Liam,” she whispered between sobs. “You don’t know what you are to me. I am nothing without you.”

Her voice trembled, raw with emotion. She squeezed his hand, pressing it against her cheek, her tears slipping onto his skin.

“I love you, Liam,” she cried softly. “I love you so much.”

The words hung in the air, an unspoken truth finally set free.

Maya clutched Liam’s hand even tighter, her tears falling freely onto his skin. Her voice quivered as she pleaded, her heart aching with every word.

“Open your eyes for me… please,” she whispered desperately. “Open them for us.”

A sob escaped her lips as she leaned closer, her forehead nearly touching his. “I don’t want to lose you, Liam. I can’t.”

Her voice broke, the weight of her emotions overwhelming her. “All this time, I didn’t realize how and when I fell in love with you. But when you left me… that’s when I got to know what you mean to me.”

She swallowed hard, her thumb gently tracing over his fingers. “So please, Liam… come back to me.”

Just as Maya’s tears fell onto his hand, she felt a faint movement beneath her fingers. Her breath hitched.

Liam’s fingers twitched ever so slightly, a barely noticeable motion, but to her, it felt like the world had shifted.

“Liam?” she gasped, hope surging through her chest. She leaned closer, watching his face desperately.

His eyelids fluttered, as if struggling against the weight of unconsciousness. Maya held onto his hand tighter, her heart pounding.

“You can hear me, can’t you?” she whispered, a fresh wave of tears filling her eyes. “Please, Liam… wake up.”

Maya's heart skipped a beat as she heard her name escape from his lips, barely more than a whisper.

“Maya…”

She froze, her entire being focusing on the sound of his voice, fragile and raspy. The world around her seemed to blur as she gently squeezed his hand, her voice shaking with relief and disbelief.

“I’m here, Liam,” she said softly, her tears mixing with a smile that broke through the fear. “I’m right here.”

His eyes fluttered open just a little, and she saw the faint glimmer of recognition in them.

Liam’s lips parted just enough for the faintest smile to appear, fragile but real. It was a smile that spoke volumes, even in his weakened state.

Maya's heart swelled, and despite the tears still streaming down her face, she felt a rush of warmth. She leaned in closer, her voice trembling with love and relief.

“I’m so glad you’re awake,” she whispered, her fingers gently brushing his cheek. “You scared me, Liam. Don’t ever do that again.”

His smile grew a little wider, his eyes still heavy but filled with the softness of the moment. Though he was barely able to speak, the connection between them felt stronger than ever.

Maya stayed by Liam’s side, never leaving the hospital room. She kept a vigil over him, her presence a quiet comfort as she held his hand through the long hours. She spoke softly to him, sharing stories and memories, hoping he could hear her, hoping he would find his way back to her.

Each day, she watched him slowly regain his strength, her heart swelling with each small sign of recovery. It wasn’t just his physical state that improved; it was the way he seemed to breathe easier with her there, the way his hand gripped hers a little stronger.

Finally, one day, after what felt like an eternity, Liam’s eyes fluttered open again. This time, they were more focused, more aware. He blinked a few times, as if adjusting to the light, and then his gaze landed on her.

“Maya,” he whispered, his voice still hoarse but unmistakably clear.

Tears filled Maya’s eyes as she smiled down at him, relief and love flooding her all at once.

“I’m here, Liam,” she whispered back, her voice full of warmth and tenderness. “I’m right here.”

His eyes softened as he reached for her hand, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “I didn’t want to scare you.”

Maya squeezed his hand, her heart overflowing with everything she had yet to say. But for now, just being there with him was enough.

Liam's voice was weak, but his words carried an unmistakable weight. His tired eyes searched hers, a flicker of confusion mixed with relief.

“You didn’t leave for the USA?” he asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

Maya’s heart caught in her throat, and she shook her head slowly, her gaze never leaving his. “No, Liam. I couldn’t leave,” she replied softly, her voice steady despite the rush of emotions inside her. “I couldn’t leave you… not like this.”

Liam’s expression softened, his lips forming a small smile as he squeezed her hand in return. "I'm glad," he whispered, his eyes closing for a moment as if savoring the comfort of her presence.

Maya's heart swelled as the words tumbled from her lips, the weight of her decision settling in the air between them. She looked down at Liam, her voice steady yet filled with sincerity.

“Higher studies in the USA are important for me, but not more than you,” she said, her eyes meeting his with unwavering honesty. “You mean the world to me, Liam.”

She paused, squeezing his hand tighter, as if grounding herself in the reality of this moment. “We’ll both apply next year. Maybe we both get a chance to go to the USA… together.”

Liam’s eyes softened, and a genuine, heartfelt smile spread across his face. It was the kind of smile that spoke of hope, of promises not yet made but felt deeply.

“I like the sound of that,” he murmured, the exhaustion still present in his voice but no longer clouding his words. “Together.”