The Only Exception

10. Ugliest Emotion

this is the longest chapter yet, get ready for a roller-coaster.

I'll be waiting for your valuable comments, lovvv youu.

The sliding glass doors whooshed open with a mechanical hiss, letting in a gust of cold air and two people moving like they were on fire.

Asi and Alaz all but ran into the hospital lobby — Asi leading, her hair in a rush behind her, hoodie half-zipped, eyes wide and panicked. Alaz kept pace beside her, long strides and tense jaw, one hand hovering just near her lower back, not touching her but close enough to catch her if she stumbled. Close enough to feel every breath she took.

Asi's phone was still clutched in her hand, Adem's voice echoing faintly in her ears.

"She's at the hospital."

The words wouldn't leave her mind.

Ruya. Her Ru. Her constant. Her chaos. Her sister in everything but blood.

Alaz scanned the signs above — Emergency, Neurology, Visitor Check-In — until he spotted a familiar figure near the front reception.

"Adem," he said, pointing.

Asi's head snapped up. She spotted him too.

"Adem!" she called, and the next second she was running.

Adem barely had time to open his arms before Asi was wrapped around him in a full-force hug.

"What happened?" she gasped against his chest. "Tell me."

"Calm down, Asi," Adem said gently, patting her back. "I just talked to the doctor. She's fine."

Asi pulled away, eyes wide. "She's fine?"

"She's fine," he repeated, nodding. "Hurt her arm, but she's talking, she's okay."

Asi closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. Her whole body relaxed in a visible wave, like the panic had been physically holding her upright.

Alaz, standing slightly behind her, finally let himself breathe when he saw her do the same. She was okay. Ruya was okay. That's all that mattered right now.

"Well—" Asi said, running a hand over her face, "what happened?"

Adem sighed. "Something small. She fell off a ladder in the storage room. Landed weird on her arm. I think she hit a shelf too. But it's not broken or anything. They're running final checks."

A doctor in green scrubs stepped out into the hallway then, clipboard in hand.

"Ruya Arkan?"

Asi and Adem both answered at the same time. "Here!"

The doctor walked over to them with a polite nod. "She's stable and doing well. You can go in now. Room 209."

The three of them moved quickly down the hallway, their footsteps echoing off the pristine hospital floor.

*

The room was small and dimly lit, the only real light coming from the muted glow of a TV no one was watching and the warm flicker of the bedside lamp.

Ruya was lying in the bed, her left arm wrapped in a light sling, an IV drip hanging beside her. Her face was tired but her eyes were bright — and she was texting with her one good hand like she wasn't in a hospital but a hotel lobby.

Asi burst in. "Ruuu!"

Ruya looked up and blinked. "Asi? What are you doing here?"

Asi rushed to her side, throwing her arms around her carefully, mindful of the sling. "Of course I'm here, Ru. Don't be ridiculous."