The Greatest Showman #880 – On Schedule

Nathan gently pressed on the brakes, parking the car with precision. Through the rearview mirror, he saw Renly, his head resting against the seat, eyes closed in quiet repose. The soft interplay of light and shadow painted a serene picture across Renly's face, as if he were enjoying a rare moment of peace.

An inexplicable lump rose in Nathan's throat, his nose tingling. The words he wanted to speak seemed stuck, too heavy to voice.

But Renly, ever observant, noticed the car had stopped. He opened his eyes, turned his head, and glanced out the window, confirming they had reached their destination.

"You don't need to park in the lot. There's a temporary space next door. Wait for me there. I'll be down soon," Renly explained briefly before exiting the car and vanishing into the soft halo of the hospital entrance.

Nathan slapped his forehead in frustration, feeling helpless. He wanted to comfort Renly, to say something—anything—but the words eluded him, leaving him feeling utterly inadequate.

The familiar rhythm of his steps through the hospital lobby, into the elevator, out again, and toward the nurse's station felt like an automatic sequence—his body moving on memory, each step seemingly programmed. His mind, though, remained distant.

"Is Heather still in the ward, or has she been moved?" Renly asked the nurse.

The nurse stared at him, taken aback—not just by Renly's presence but also by his appearance. Normally, Renly showed up in casual clothes, sometimes with a skateboard tucked under his arm, a far cry from the sharply tailored suit and neatly combed hair he wore today. He looked almost unrecognizable.

"... She's still in the ward," the nurse replied, recovering from her surprise.

Renly gave a slight smile, nodding his thanks, and made his way down the sterile, white-walled corridor, his footsteps quiet in the oppressive silence. The fluorescent lights cast a bluish hue over everything, and time seemed to stretch, the space feeling endless as he walked, his steps muffled against the cold tile floor.

He pushed open the door to Heather's room, his gaze immediately landing on Derek and Ellie, seated together by the window.

The two sat in desolation, bathed in the soft moonlight, their figures outlined in silvery light. The quiet room, the stillness of the night, held a sense of finality, the air thick with unspoken grief.

Derek noticed the movement first. His eyes lifted, spotting Renly at the door. He jolted to his feet, the sudden motion causing the atmosphere to tighten, the room growing colder.

Derek had sent Renly a message earlier, feeling it was important for Renly to know. But he hadn't expected Renly to show up in person, nor had he anticipated how quickly it would happen. Seeing Renly in a suit and leather shoes—so composed, so out of place in this sad scene—left him momentarily stunned.

"Why are you here?" Ellie's voice broke the silence, rough and hoarse, as though the words were physically painful to speak. There was a sharpness in her tone, distant and cold.

"Ellie!" Derek reached out to her, but Ellie struggled to stand, her knees giving way, and she collapsed back into her seat, embarrassed by her failure to rise.

Renly paused, standing in the doorway. His posture was polite, respectful, as though there was an invisible chasm between him and the others, an insurmountable distance that rendered everything small, distant, helpless.

"I'm sorry, Ellie. I just came to say 'goodbye,' and then I'll leave. I won't stay long," Renly said, his voice soft but steady.

Ellie didn't respond, her face pale, her gaze fixed on the floor, refusing to meet his eyes. Her silence was loud, heavy.

Derek nodded silently, understanding. He raised his head toward Renly, acknowledging his presence. Renly moved forward, closing the distance between them.

He arrived at Heather's side, her face peaceful and calm as she slept. Her thick eyelashes rested like butterfly wings, concealing the lively, bright eyes she used to have. She looked so still, as if the tiredness had taken hold of her, and sleep was her only escape.

Renly's smile flickered briefly. He knew Heather would wake up soon, stretch, and probably complain about missing her guitar practice or how she hadn't prepared enough for her upcoming audition.

"Looks like you're going to miss it," Renly murmured softly, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. "I promised I'd attend the Grammys with you, but it looks like you'll be missing out, you little slacker. Don't worry, I'll still go, and Annie and Alex will be there too."

Renly paused, the smile fading as his eyes lowered in quiet sorrow. "But don't worry. Annie will tell you everything that happens—she's always been the storyteller of the group."

There was a tenderness in his words, an ache buried beneath the calm. He couldn't help but notice the butterfly kite on the windowsill—the same one they had talked about flying together.

"The weather's perfect in New York today—seems like the best day this winter. I was going to fly the kite with you, but now... I guess we'll have to save that for next time."

The words lingered in the air, but Renly stopped himself before saying more. What was there left to say? Nothing could ease the pain or make this moment any less heavy.

He bent down, his movements slow and deliberate, and pressed a soft kiss to Heather's forehead. His voice was a whisper as he spoke the words that would never come close to the comfort he wished he could offer: "Don't worry. Your secrets are safe with me, in that melody of yours. Always."

He stood up again, turning his gaze to Derek and Ellie, both still seated by the bed. Ellie refused to look at him, but Derek nodded in acknowledgment. Renly gave a small smile, his voice gentle as he spoke to them both:

"I'll leave now, give you some personal time with Heather. Thank you, Derek, Ellie."

The simple words, the polite farewell, caused Ellie's gaze to flicker up, meeting Renly's familiar smile. Derek opened his mouth, but the words faltered, leaving only a nod.

"Good night," Renly said softly, then turned and left the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

Ellie watched him go, her heart aching, her mind drifting to memories of Heather's graduation. In her mind's eye, she saw Heather in a beautiful dress, smiling, standing at the top of the stairs. It was a picture of growth, of life continuing to unfold.

Before she knew it, Ellie's hand reached out, wanting to call Renly back, but the words remained locked in her throat. The door closed behind him, and the silence in the room deepened. Ellie's tears finally broke free, spilling down her cheeks.

Derek, his own emotions raw, raised his hand to comfort her but faltered, his fingers trembling as he withdrew them, helpless. He leaned against the wall, fighting the rush of warmth in his eyes, unable to stop the tears that threatened to follow.

Renly left the ward, the hospital corridors, and entered the elevator. His steps were measured, each movement deliberate as he made his way back to the car. Nathan, still reeling from the events of the evening, didn't speak at first as Renly climbed into the back seat.

"Let's go back to the apartment," Renly finally said, his voice calm as always.

Nathan stared at the rearview mirror, his thoughts still a whirlwind of confusion. "Huh?" he muttered, still processing the events.

Renly repeated, a hint of patience in his tone, "Let's go back to the apartment. I need to pick up Annie and Alex tomorrow morning before heading to the airport. We need to get some rest tonight. Also, have you contacted the personal doctor in Los Angeles? Have you exchanged all of Annie and Alex's medical records? Even though it's just a three-day trip, we need to be fully prepared."

Nathan's mind snapped back to the present. He blinked, nodding quickly. "Right. Everything's arranged."

With that, the car pulled away into the night, the sounds of the city fading into the quiet hum of the drive.