Broken Paths || Wen JunHui

Chapter 59: A Fragile Awakening

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The hospital room was quiet, save for the steady beep of the heart monitor and the faint hum of machinery. Da-Rae sat in the chair beside the bed, her hands gripping each other tightly, her knuckles white. The guilt in her chest felt heavier with every passing second as she stared at Jun's pale, motionless form. His once sharp, unsettling intensity had been replaced by a fragility that made him look heartbreakingly human.

She had stayed by his side for hours, unwilling to leave him alone even for a moment. Her mind raced with everything that had led them to this point—every misstep, every wrong decision, and every red flag she had ignored in the hopes that things might somehow resolve themselves. But now, as Jun lay in this bed, she knew she couldn't keep hoping for miracles. Something had to change.

When Jun stirred, his eyelids fluttering open, her breath caught.

"Jun?" she whispered, leaning forward, her voice shaky and raw. "Can you hear me?"

He blinked a few times, his gaze unfocused at first, before it settled on her. His lips parted, but no sound came out.

"Don't try to talk," she said quickly, tears brimming in her eyes. "You need to rest. The doctors said you'll recover, but... but you need to stay still."

Jun's gaze softened as he studied her face. Despite the weakness in his expression, there was a flicker of recognition—and something deeper, something that made her stomach twist.

"I'm sorry," she blurted, the words tumbling from her mouth in a desperate rush. "I'm so, so sorry, Jun. I didn't mean to hurt you. I—I was scared, and I wasn't thinking, and it all happened so fast—"

Jun raised a hand weakly, his fingers barely lifting off the bed, but it was enough to silence her.

"You..." His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. "Stayed."

Her tears spilled over as she nodded. "Of course I stayed. I couldn't leave you like that. I—I didn't know if you'd survive, and it's my fault you're even here..."

He watched her, his eyes filled with something she couldn't quite place. Was it forgiveness? Understanding? Or perhaps it was the same unyielding fixation that had always unnerved her.

"You didn't mean to," he said, his words slow and strained. "I know."

"But that doesn't make it okay," Da-Rae said, her voice breaking. She covered her face with her hands, unable to stop the sobs that shook her shoulders. "I hurt you, Jun. I could have killed you. And after everything you've been through—"

"You were scared," he murmured, his tone calm despite his frailty. "I scared you."

Her hands dropped from her face as she stared at him, startled by the simplicity of his statement. "That doesn't mean you deserved this."

Jun's lips quirked into a small, faint smile, though it lacked any real humor. "Maybe I did."

"No!" Da-Rae cried, shaking her head vehemently. "Don't say that. You didn't. This isn't your fault, Jun. It's mine. I panicked, and I wasn't thinking, and now—"

"You saved me," he interrupted, his voice still soft but firm enough to catch her attention.

She frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

"When you called for help," he explained. "You didn't leave me to die. You stayed. That... means everything to me."

Da-Rae's heart clenched painfully at his words. She didn't know how to respond, so she simply reached for his hand, holding it gently in hers.

"I'll do whatever I can to make this right," she promised, her voice trembling. "But, Jun, we can't keep living like this. You can't. You need help, and this time, I won't let anyone—or anything—stop me from making sure you get it."

His hand tightened weakly around hers, a small gesture that held more emotion than words ever could.

"You're here," he whispered, his eyelids growing heavy again as exhaustion began to pull him back under. "That's... all I need."

"No, Jun," Da-Rae said firmly, even as tears streamed down her cheeks. "That's not enough. You need more. Real help. Therapy, treatment—everything. I'll make sure of it, no matter what it takes. Even if I have to fight for it every step of the way, I'll do it. You deserve to get better, and I won't stop until you do."

As he drifted off, Da-Rae sat back in her chair, still holding his hand. She didn't know how they would navigate the tangled mess of their lives, but one thing was clear: she would not let Jun slip through the cracks again.

No matter how hard it would be, she was determined to help him find a way back to himself. 

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