The Crossroad of Us

The hospital walls felt colder that night.

Even though I had stayed longer than I intended, I couldn't bring myself to leave just yet. Kristoff had fallen asleep again, his hand still loosely wrapped around mine, his grip weak but reluctant to let go.

And I wasn't sure if I wanted him to.

His words lingered in my mind. Then I'll wait.

Was he really willing to wait for me to believe him?

Or was this just another promise that would eventually crumble?

I didn't have the answers. But I knew that something had shifted.

I wasn't just standing at a crossroads I was standing at our crossroads.

And for the first time, I had to decide which path to take.

---

Facing My Own Heart

I left the hospital in the early hours of the morning, my body exhausted but my mind restless. The city streets were eerily quiet, save for the occasional passing car. I pulled my coat tighter around me as I walked, my hands instinctively resting over my stomach.

Our baby.

The thought sent a shiver down my spine. It was strange how much everything had changed in such a short time.

A few weeks ago, I was certain that Kristoff was my past. Now, he was part of my future whether I was ready for it or not.

But what did I want?

Did I want to let him in?

Or was it safer to walk away before I got hurt again?

I spent the next few days lost in that question.

I didn't visit the hospital as often, needing space to think. Kristoff didn't push, but I knew he noticed. His texts were simple, checking in, asking if I was okay. I answered them, but I kept my distance.

Because the truth was, I didn't know how to be close to him without getting burned.

And yet… I missed him.

Missed his voice. His stubbornness. The way he always saw through me, even when I tried to shut him out.

No matter how much I fought it, Kristoff had always been home.

And I was terrified of what that meant.

---

A Confession I Wasn't Ready For

It wasn't until the weekend that I finally returned to the hospital.

I told myself it was just to check on him to see if he was improving. But deep down, I knew it was more than that.

When I walked into his room, he was already awake, staring out the window with a thoughtful expression.

His head turned at the sound of my footsteps, and the second his eyes met mine, something in my chest tightened.

"Ari," he said softly, as if he wasn't sure I was real.

I nodded, stepping inside. "Hey."

He watched me carefully, as if afraid I'd disappear if he blinked. "You okay?"

I hesitated before answering. "Yeah."

A small, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Liar."

I sighed, sitting down on the chair beside him. "I don't know how to do this, Kristoff."

He exhaled, his gaze never leaving mine. "Then don't force it. Just be here."

I wanted to believe it was that simple.

I wanted to believe that just being was enough.

But we both knew better.

For a moment, there was only silence. Then, before I could stop myself, I blurted out the question that had been haunting me since the night I found him in the hospital.

"Did you love her?"

Kristoff blinked, startled by my sudden words.

Then, as if he had been expecting the question, he answered.

"No."

No hesitation. No uncertainty. Just a firm, unwavering truth.

"She was there when I wasn't," he admitted. "When I was trying to figure things out, when I felt like I was losing control of everything she was just… there." He shook his head. "But I never loved her, Ari. She was never you."

I sucked in a breath, my fingers curling into fists on my lap. "Then why didn't you tell me?"

His eyes darkened with regret. "Because I didn't want to hurt you more than I already had."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Well, congratulations. You failed."

Kristoff winced, but he didn't argue. "I know," he murmured. "And I'm sorry."

His apology should have felt empty. It should have made me angrier.

But instead, it made me want to cry.

Because despite everything, despite all the pain I wanted to believe him.

And that scared me more than anything else.

---

Choosing to Stay

I didn't leave right away.

For the first time since everything had fallen apart, Kristoff and I sat together in quiet understanding.

There was still hurt. Still doubt.

But there was also something else.

Something fragile, yet unbreakable.

Hope.

And for now, that was enough.

---

One Step at a Time

Over the next few weeks, things between us remained fragile. Kristoff was still recovering, and I was still struggling with my emotions. But despite the uncertainty, we talked.

Not just about the past, but about the future.

About our baby.

About us.

It wasn't easy. Some days, I felt like running. Others, I found myself reaching for my phone, wanting to hear his voice.

But Kristoff never pushed.

He gave me the space I needed while making sure I knew he was there.

And slowly, the walls I had built between us started to crack.

One evening, as I sat beside his hospital bed, he reached out and took my hand.

It was a simple gesture. No words. No expectations.

Just a silent promise.

And for the first time in a long time, I didn't pull away.