"But... what happened to me?" Milo asked softly, his voice no louder than a shaky whisper. He looked at Ruby with that same innocent worry that made her chest ache.
Ruby opened her mouth, but the words just wouldn’t come out right. Her lips pressed into a thin, tight line. She didn’t want to lie to him — not now, not when he was looking at her with that pure trust. But how could she tell him? How could she explain it without breaking his gentle spirit even more?
She felt her throat close up, so she looked down, brushing a bit of his hair back from his forehead, trying to keep her hand steady.
Julian saw her struggle. He stepped closer, then sat carefully on the edge of Milo’s hospital bed. The mattress dipped just a little under his weight. He reached out and laid his warm hand over Milo’s hand, giving it a soft squeeze.
When Milo turned his eyes to him, Julian forced a gentle smile — one that looked tired but so full of love. "You got tired, Milo," he said softly, his deep voice wrapping around the words like a warm blanket. "Your heart needs to rest for a while. That’s why you felt weak. But you’re here now. The healer will help you get better."
Milo blinked slowly, his lashes fluttering like he was trying to understand. "So... I’m not going home yet?" he asked.
Julian shook his head just a little, thumb brushing over Milo’s knuckles. "Not yet. You’ll stay here for some time so you can get stronger, okay? Then you can come home and when you do, we’ll all be waiting. We’ll take care of you. Just like you always take care of us."
Milo’s eyes became glassy. He didn’t argue, didn’t try to force a smile this time, he just squeezed Julian’s hand back, holding on as tight as his small fingers could. And Ruby, who still stood beside the bed with her own hand resting on Milo’s hair, felt her shoulders drop just a little.
"But... I don’t want to stay here alone..." Milo whispered, his voice trembling as his fingers clutched at Julian’s sleeve. His wide eyes filled with a frightened shine, like a child left alone in the dark. "I’m... scared," he said, his lower lip wobbling just a little.
Ruby’s heart squeezed so tight in her chest that she didn’t care if her voice cracked. She leaned in closer, brushing her hand gently through his hair, smoothing it away from his damp forehead. "No, sweetheart," she said softly but firmly. "You won’t be alone. We’ll stay with you. I promise."
Milo blinked, big tears gathering at the corners of his eyes. He looked at her like he needed so badly to believe it like her words were the only thing holding him up.
"Really?" he whispered again, his voice so small. "You’ll stay? You and Julian?"
Julian shifted closer, his hand squeezing Milo’s gently. His other arm came up to rest around Ruby’s back too, pulling them both into the little circle of warmth around the bed. His deep voice was steady, even as his eyes glistened. "Of course we will," he said. "We’re not going anywhere. We’ll be right here. You can sleep knowing we’re here with you."
Milo let out a tiny shaky breath, his lashes fluttering as a tear finally rolled down his cheek. Ruby leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.
"You’re safe," Ruby whispered, her voice warm and gentle against his hair. "You’re not alone. Not now... not ever."
Milo’s lips curved into the smallest, sleepiest smile, even as another tear slipped free. "Okay..." he breathed out, his hand still wrapped in Julian’s, his other hand clutching the blanket like a lifeline. "Then... I can sleep."
And right there, under the soft hospital lights, Milo’s eyelids finally drooped closed.
And when the long, tense night finally gave way to soft morning light, the tiny hospital room felt just a bit warmer. Ruby had dozed off in the hard chair beside Milo’s bed, her head tilted awkwardly, her arms crossed but never too far from where she could reach out and touch Milo if he needed her.
Julian had stayed right by Milo’s side the whole night. He lay curled gently on the narrow edge of the bed, careful not to disturb the thin tubes taped to Milo’s small wrist. Every so often he’d open his eyes just enough to check that Milo was still breathing steady, then drift off again when he heard the soft, even hum of the heart monitor.
By morning, Ruby’s neck ached from the stiff chair, but she didn’t care. She stood up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, and went to the front desk. She knew Milo would have to stay for a while and if he had to stay, he deserved to be as comfortable as possible.
So she talked to the receptionist in a low, determined voice. "I’d like to get a VIP ward for Milo," she said. She flinched a little at the fees, it was a lot higher than a normal room. But the moment she thought about Milo’s inocent eyes and how scared he’d looked last night, she didn’t hesitate.
The VIP ward was the best they could offer. A bigger, brighter room with large windows that let in warm sunlight during the day. There was a much softer hospital bed for Milo, with adjustable settings so he wouldn’t feel stiff. There was even a small, comfy bed for family to sleep on too, right beside him. A private bathroom, a little shelf for flowers and get-well cards, anything to make it feel less like a hospital and more like a quiet, safe home for a while.
When they wheeled Milo into his new room, he blinked up at the white walls and wide windows, his eyes going wide.
"It’s... so big..." Milo said softly, his voice still a little hoarse. He turned his head to look at Ruby and Julian, who stood on either side of his bed. "I can... stay here?"
—To be continued...🪄