The Silver Lining

As I walked through the hospital corridors, my vision blurred with tears, I barely noticed the figure leaning against the doorway of a nearby room, watching me. After a few moments, the figure steps out, catching me off guard.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asks, his voice gentle but tinged with curiosity.

I look up, startled, and wipe my eyes quickly, trying to regain composure. The stranger is tall, with sandy blonde hair that looks effortlessly tousled, and light blue eyes glinting with an almost playful gleam, as if he’s perpetually amused by something no one else knows. His expression softens as he watches me, his concern cutting through the haze of my emotions.

“I… I’m fine,” I stammer, though it’s painfully obvious I’m anything but. I avert my gaze, feeling exposed.

“Fine, huh?” he replies, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. “Funny, because I don’t usually see people wandering hospital corridors with tears in their eyes when they’re perfectly fine.”

I bite my lip, caught off guard by his bluntness mixed with an unexpected kindness. There’s a charm in his expression that makes me feel like I can’t hide, even if I wanted to. “Just… family stuff,” I say finally, not wanting to elaborate but somehow feeling that brushing him off wouldn’t work.

“Family stuff. Got it,” he repeats, nodding slowly as if he’s dissecting my words. “Well, maybe talking to a stranger is the way to go. I’m Elias, by the way.”

He holds out his hand, and I hesitate before shaking it. “Raven.”

“Nice to meet you, Raven,” he says, his eyes narrowing slightly in a playful assessment.

“What do you say we take a break from this ‘family stuff’ for a bit? There’s a spot outside that’s pretty chill if you want to clear your head.”

I blink, surprised at his casual offer. “I don’t even know you,” I say, trying to deflect.

“Exactly. The best part of it,” he says, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I have no idea what’s going on with you, no judgments. Plus, I’m pretty good company. Or so I’m told.”

Despite myself, I let out a small laugh. His confidence is almost contagious, and there’s something about him that makes it hard to say no.

“Alright,” I agree, my voice barely above a whisper. “Lead the way.”

He smiles, gesturing for me to follow. We wind through the hallways and eventually make our way outside to a quiet courtyard tucked away from the hustle of the hospital. There’s a small garden area with benches, and the air feels refreshingly cool against my skin.

Elias sits down on a bench, patting the spot next to him. “Come on, I don’t bite. Usually.”

I roll my eyes, but a tiny smile slips out. I sit beside him, feeling an odd sense of relief wash over me in his presence. For the first time in hours, the weight of everything around me feels a little lighter.

“So, do you usually approach crying strangers in hospitals?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood.

He chuckles, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest.

“Only the ones who look like they could use a friend. You seemed… lost. Figured I’d be a decent distraction.”

“Is that what you are? A distraction?” I reply, raising an eyebrow.

“Among other things,” he says, winking. “But I don’t know, maybe you needed a distraction tonight.”

I nod, staring at my hands. “Yeah. Maybe I did.”

Elias’s gaze softens, and he doesn’t push me to say more, giving me the space I didn’t realize I needed. Instead, he shifts the conversation with a lighthearted tone, asking me about things that seem trivial but comforting. For a while, he talks about his love for spontaneous adventures, and how he’s not one for routine.

Somehow, his words and the warmth in his voice managed to chip away at the numbness inside me. I find myself sharing bits and pieces of school life, not too much, but enough to ease the ache in my chest.

By the time we finish talking, I feel a little lighter, and a lot less alone. As we sit there, a strange sense of peace settles between us, making the world beyond this little courtyard fade away.

As I’m sitting with Elias, a sudden buzz from my phone cuts through our conversation. I glance down at the screen, and Aiden’s name lights up. Without thinking, I answer, “Hi, Aiden.”

“Hey, how are you?” he asks, a hint of concern in his voice. “You just rushed out of here without saying much. Is everything okay?”

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I say, feeling a pang of guilt. “My little brother… he ended up falling down some stairs, and my mother called to tell me he’d been rushed to the hospital. I ran over here without really thinking.”

There’s a pause, and then Aiden’s voice softens. “Oh, no need to apologize. If I got a call like that for Maya, I’d have gone full Superman mode.”

I can’t help but chuckle, the tension easing slightly. “Superman, huh? Good to know.”

“Glad I could make you laugh,” he says, a smile evident in his tone. “It’s been a rough week. You needed that.”

“Yeah,” I admit, “it really has.”

“So, can I come pick you up?” he asks, and I hear a genuine eagerness in his voice. “I don’t want you to worry about getting back alone.”

“Aiden, I don’t want you to become my chauffeur,” I protest lightly.

“Hey, I don’t mind,” he insists. “Just send me the hospital name, or else I’ll end up driving to every hospital in the state until I find you.”

A laugh escapes me, and I nod, though he can’t see it. “Fine, not necessary. I’ll send it over text.”

“Good,” he says, sounding satisfied. “See you soon, then.” With that, he hangs up.

As I start typing out a message to him, I feel Elias’s gaze on me. When I finally look up, he’s watching me with an amused smile, one eyebrow slightly raised.

“So,” he says, his voice teasing, “I’m not the only one who can make you smile, huh?”

Caught off guard, I feel my face heat up. “What? No, it’s not like that,” I mumble.

“Oh, really?” He leans back, his eyes still glinting with that mischievous spark. “Sounded like it from here.”

I roll my eyes, trying to regain my composure. “He’s just a friend. That’s all.”

“Uh-huh.” He doesn’t sound convinced, and his smirk only widens. “Well, I guess I should just be honored you laughed at my jokes, too.”

I laugh despite myself, feeling strangely at ease. “You’re impossible.”

He shrugs, feigning innocence. “I try my best.” There’s a pause, and his tone shifts slightly, becoming softer, more genuine. “But… I’m glad I could make you smile. Whoever that guy is, he’s got some competition now.”

“Is that so?” I reply, trying to match his playful tone but feeling a warmth in my chest.

“Definitely,” he says, holding my gaze. “I don’t back down that easily.”

“I… should finish texting him. Aiden’s probably already on his way.”

Elias nods, watching me thoughtfully. “Sure. But just know I’m here if you need someone to distract you again.”

I give him a small, grateful smile. “Thanks, Elias. Really.”

He waves it off casually. “Anytime, Raven.”

And as I hit send on my text to Aiden, Elias and I continue our easy rhythm of conversation, chatting about everything from his favorite bands to random childhood memories. He has a way of making even the most ordinary topics feel interesting, and I find myself genuinely laughing for a while in days. The minutes slip by, and it isn’t until I feel my phone buzz in my hand that I realize how much time has passed.

I glance down to see a message from Aiden: *I’m here.*

“Oh, he’s here,” I say, feeling a mix of excitement and hesitation.

“Guess I’d better go.”

Elias gives me a soft smile. “Duty calls, huh?”

“Yeah,” I nod, smiling back. “But… thanks, Elias. For keeping me company. I really needed it.”

He waves it off with that familiar, carefree look. “Anytime, Raven. Just remember, I’m always around if you need another distraction.”

I laugh, giving him a playful nudge. “Don’t tempt me.”

As I turn to leave, Elias calls after me. “Hey, Raven?”

I pause, looking back at him curiously.

“Take care of yourself, alright? You’re allowed to put yourself first sometimes.” His voice is gentler now, more sincere, and the weight of his words lingers.

I give him a small nod, unable to trust my voice to reply, and head toward the parking lot.

When I get there, I see Aiden standing outside his car, his eyes scanning the area, looking for me. I walk up quietly and tap him on the shoulder. “Hey, were you waiting long?”

He turns around, relief washing over his face. “Nah, not at all.” Before I can react, he pulls me into an embrace, wrapping his arms around me.

I freeze, caught off guard by the sudden closeness. After a moment, I ask, still pressed against his chest, “Uh… Aiden? What's with the hug?”

He quickly lets go, his cheeks reddening as he scratches the back of his head. “Oh, I just thought… never mind. Forget it.”

We both stand there, awkwardly avoiding each other’s gaze, the silence stretching just a little too long. I feel a warmth creep up my face, and I can tell he’s blushing too.

“So, um… should we get going?” I ask, trying to break the tension.

“Yeah, let’s,” he replies, opening the passenger door for me before heading around to the driver’s side.

As he starts the car, neither of us says anything at first, the quiet almost deafening. Finally, I muster up the courage to glance over at him, catching him sneaking a look at me at the same time. We both look away, laughing nervously.

“Thanks for coming to get me, Aiden,” I say softly, hoping to ease the lingering awkwardness.

He gives me a small smile, his eyes still a little shy. “Anytime, Raven. You don’t have to go through stuff like this alone.”

As the car hummed along the road, I leaned back, staring out the window, the events of the day a heavy blur in my mind. The silence between Aiden and me was comfortable, but my thoughts kept drifting to James, the bruises on Lily, and the confrontation with my mother. I barely noticed when Aiden turned onto campus grounds until the car slowed down near my dorm. I unbuckled my seatbelt and started to reach for the door handle when Aiden broke the silence.

“Hey, don’t get out just yet,” he said softly.

I turned to him, a bit surprised. “Is everything okay?”

He nodded, then hesitated. “I just… I know today’s been hard on you. I didn’t want to just drop you off like it was nothing.”

I smiled faintly, appreciating the concern. “Thanks, Aiden. I think I just need some rest.”

Before I could say more, Aiden’s phone buzzed, and he glanced down at it with a sigh. “Looks like Maya’s been texting me nonstop. Probably to check on you,” he said, smirking. “She was worried, you know.”

“Oh no,” I groaned, rubbing my temples. “She’s going to blame herself for the whole USB thing, isn’t she?”

“Yeah, she’s been feeling guilty about that.” He shot me a reassuring look. “But, honestly, it’s not a big deal. We’ll get it sorted out.”

With that, I stepped out of the car, closing the door behind me. He waved as he drove off, and I started making my way to my dorm.

The walk felt long, and my feet were heavy with exhaustion. But as soon as I reached my room, the door swung open, and I found myself wrapped in a familiar hug.

“Raven!” Maya’s voice was full of relief and worry. She pulled back, scanning my face. “Oh my god, I’ve been so worried! Aiden told me what happened. Are you okay?”

I managed a small smile. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just… exhausted.”

She sighed and hugged me again, this time a bit tighter. “The Bennetts sure love to hug, don’t they?” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Maya pulled back, giving me a confused look. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

My cheeks warmed as I thought back to Aiden’s embrace in the parking lot. “Oh, um, nothing. Just… you know.” I waved my hand dismissively, trying to brush it off, but Maya wasn’t convinced. She raised an eyebrow and smirked knowingly.

“Mmhmm. Sure, Raven.” She let out a soft laugh, then led me into the room, guiding me to sit down on the edge of my bed. “So, how are you really? Aiden only told me bits and pieces. How’s James?”

“Better,” I replied, my shoulders finally relaxing. “He’s okay now, and I’m planning to go back tomorrow to check on him. It was… a lot, but he’s strong. He’ll be okay.”

She squeezed my hand gently, her gaze filled with empathy. “I’m glad to hear that. And I’m really, really sorry about the whole USB mess. I never should have invited you to Tyler’s place. I feel like it’s my fault that all this happened.”

“Oh, Maya, please don’t feel that way.” I shook my head. “The USB issue isn’t a big deal. Aiden and I are working together to fix it. Besides, it wasn’t your fault.”

She visibly relaxed, letting out a breath of relief. “Still, if there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know. Like, I can help you guys go over the project or something. Plus, I mean… working with Aiden? That must be interesting.” She nudged me, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the slight blush creeping onto my cheeks. “It’s nothing, really. We’re just working on fixing the project.”

“Oh, come on,” she said, laughing softly. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. And, honestly, the way you look at him sometimes.”

“Maya, please.” I groaned, but her teasing only made her laugh harder.

“Fine, fine. I’ll drop it. For now,” she said with a wink, giving my arm a playful squeeze.

We chatted for a little while longer, Maya doing her best to distract me from the weight of the day. Her lightheartedness and jokes made the tension ease bit by bit, and I felt a little more like myself. After a while, though, I could feel the day catching up to me, the exhaustion settling deep into my bones.

“Alright, I think I’m going to shower and head to bed,” I said, standing up and stretching.

“Good idea.” She smiled, giving me one last quick hug. “If you need anything, I’m right here. And… I really am sorry again. For everything.”

“Thanks, Maya,” I said softly, feeling gratitude swell in my chest. “Really, it’s okay. You’ve been a great friend.”

With that, I headed to the bathroom, letting the hot water wash over me, trying to cleanse away the lingering emotions. After my shower, I slipped into bed, the familiar comfort of my room finally letting me feel a semblance of peace.