the silence between us

The days after the doctor's appointment passed in an eerie silence.

At first, I didn't think much of it. Kristoff had mentioned he had some business to handle, and I figured he just needed time to process everything. But as the days stretched into weeks with no call, no text nothing I started to worry.

Had he changed his mind? Was this his way of backing out without saying the words?

I hated that my first instinct was to assume the worst, but after everything, how could I not?

I tried to ignore the gnawing anxiety, tried to focus on myself and the tiny life growing inside me. But every time I reached for my phone, hoping for a message, disappointment settled deeper into my bones.

I told myself I wouldn't let it bother me. That I'd be fine with or without him. But the longer the silence stretched, the harder it was to believe my own lies.

I wasn't fine.

I was scared.

By the third week, my worry had turned into something unbearable.

I tried calling Kristoff's phone straight to voicemail.

I sent texts no response.

I even considered going to his place, but the idea of showing up only to be ignored made my stomach churn.

Was this his way of cutting me off? Of washing his hands clean of this whole mess?

I hated how much it hurt to even think that.

Sophie, my closest friend, noticed my restlessness. "Maybe he just needs time," she suggested one evening as we sat on my couch.

"Three weeks is a long time," I muttered, pulling my knees to my chest.

Sophie hesitated. "Do you… do you think he's ghosting you?"

I swallowed hard. "I don't know."

The words tasted bitter on my tongue.

Sophie reached for my hand, squeezing it. "No matter what happens, you're not alone in this, okay?"

I nodded, even though it didn't feel that way.

Not when the one person who promised he'd be there was nowhere to be found.

Then, one afternoon, everything changed.

I had stepped out for groceries, mindlessly walking through the aisles when I spotted a familiar face near the checkout.

Liam.

One of Kristoff's closest friends.

He hadn't seen me yet, but the second our eyes met, his expression shifted.

Concern flickered across his face.

I rushed toward him. "Liam," I blurted, my voice unsteady. "Have you seen Kristoff?"

Liam stiffened. "Ariella…"

Something about his tone made my heart plummet.

"What is it?" My voice was sharp, urgent. "Where is he?"

Liam exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Shit. I thought you knew."

I felt my stomach twist. "Knew what?"

He hesitated, like he wasn't sure how to say it. Then, finally

"Kristoff's in the hospital. He collapsed a few days ago stomach ulcer. It was bad, Ari. He's in a coma."

The world seemed to tilt.

A coma.

The weight of the word pressed against my chest, making it hard to breathe.

I must have misheard him. That couldn't be right.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "That's not… He wouldn't just "

"I'm serious," Liam said, his voice gentler now. "He's been unconscious for days."

My fingers curled into fists, my pulse pounding in my ears.

I had spent weeks thinking he abandoned me. That he had decided he didn't want this didn't want me.

But the whole time…

He had been fighting for his life.

Without another thought, I turned and ran.