When Ruby reached the quiet hallway outside Milo’s VIP room, the first thing she saw was Julian leaning against the wall near the door. He looked tired, but the moment he spotted them — Ruby, Karl, and Adrian together, his eyes widened with a flash of soft surprise that made his shoulders relax just a little.
Karl didn’t waste a second. He hurried forward and threw his arms around Julian, nearly knocking him back into the wall. "Brother Jules!" he sniffled, voice muffled against Julian’s chest. "We’re here — see? We’re all here!"
Julian let out a low laugh, tired but warm. He wrapped one arm around Karl, then reached his other out to pull Adrian in too. Adrian stiffened for half a second but let Julian hug him, just resting his chin lightly on Julian’s shoulder. It was clumsy but felt right like they were all trying to breathe out the fear they’d been holding in since last night.
"You all came," Julian said softly when he pulled back, a small, grateful smile lifting the corners of his mouth. He gave Ruby a tiny nod that said thank you without a single word.
Karl wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve and looked at the door with so much eagerness it almost hurt. "Let’s go in! Let’s go see him! He’ll be so happy!"
But Julian shook his head gently, his hand resting on Karl’s shoulder to keep him from barging right in. "Not yet," he said kindly. "Milo’s having his check-up right now. The healer’s checking his breathing, his heart — they need to listen carefully, make sure he’s stable. Just a few minutes, alright?"
Karl’s shoulders drooped a little, but he nodded, clinging to the bag Ruby had packed for Milo. Adrian stayed close too, quiet but hovering protectively near the door, eyes flicking to the brass nameplate that made everything feel so real.
Through the small frosted window in the door, they could see a faint shadow — Milo’s sitting up in bed while a nurse gently pressed a stethoscope to his chest. His thin robe was pulled slightly down so they could check his heartbeat, his breathing, his blood pressure. Even from this side of the door, they could see how thin and pale he looked but the steady sound of the healer’s calm voice inside made Ruby’s chest loosen just a little.
Julian squeezed Karl’s shoulder and gave Adrian’s wrist a small pat. "Just wait a bit," he said softly, looking at all of them with that tired but hopeful smile. "You’ll see him soon and he’ll feel so much better seeing you all here."
When the check-up finally finished, the healer and nurse stepped out of the VIP ward quietly. The healer gave Ruby a small reassuring nod on her way past, and Julian thanked them in a low voice. Karl didn’t even wait for the door to close fully before he grabbed the bag and nearly pushed his way inside, his messy hair bouncing with every step.
Ruby followed right behind him, Adrian at her side, his hands tucked in his sleeves as he stepped in carefully. The room felt warm and calm, with sunlight spilling through the wide window and touching the soft blanket tucked up around Milo’s chest.
Milo was propped up on a pillow, his thin shoulders rising and falling a little too quickly as he breathed — each breath a bit heavier than usual, but steady. His hair was slightly mussed from the stethoscope and his small hands played with the edge of the blanket.
When he looked up and saw them all together — Ruby, Karl, Adrian, and Julian right behind, his eyes lit up like soft lanterns. His lips curved into that gentle, shy smile that always felt like sunshine after rain.
"You’re... all here," Milo said, his voice thin but so warm it almost made Karl tear up all over again. He gave a tiny cough, then let out a breathy laugh. "You... really came."
Karl dropped the bag onto the chair and rushed to the side of the bed. "Of course we did! Idiot Milo, do you think we’d let you stay here alone? Never!" He sniffed loudly, wiping his nose with his sleeve again. "You scared me, dummy!"
Adrian moved closer, pulling a small chair near the bed but not sitting right away, he just rested his hand on the metal rail, his deep eyes softening when Milo’s hand reached for him.
Ruby sat on the other side, leaning in and brushing a bit of Milo’s hair off his forehead, the same way she always did at home. "How are you feeling, sweetheart?" she asked softly.
Milo’s breathing was still a bit heavy, but he managed to look at each of them, his smile trembling around the edges. "Better... now," he whispered, his eyes closing for a second as if just the sight of them took a weight off his chest. "I’m... really glad you’re here."
Julian leaned over from behind, placing his hand on Milo’s shoulder, warm and steady. "We’re not going anywhere, Milo," he said quietly, voice full of promise. "Rest all you need. We’ll be right here."
Ruby’s gentle hand paused where she’d been brushing Milo’s hair away from his forehead. She glanced at Julian and then back at Milo, her brow pinched just a little with quiet worry.
"Milo..." she asked softly, her voice calm but firm, "when did you start feeling ? The breathing trouble, feeling so tired... when did it really start?"
Milo blinked a few times, his eyes drifting from her face to the blanket bunched up on his lap. He rubbed his fingers over the edge, his breathing still a little too fast, like he was searching his own memory for pieces he hadn’t paid enough attention to before.
"I don’t... know..." he said, his voice so small that Karl leaned in to hear him better. "I guess... it was there for a long time? I always feel tired when I work a lot." His lashes fluttered as he struggled to explain. "Sometimes... I do too much... then it’s like... my chest feels heavy... and I can’t get all the air."
—To be continued...🪄