But just as he was about to respond in kind, his phone rang with Emily's name on the screen. My heart sank.
He saw it too, paused, and gently pulled away. "I'll get you home," he said, voice calm.
I held his hand, shaking my head, "You've been away from me for days. First, it was work, but what about now? If you feel guilty, we can hire a nurse for her."
Alex's eyes turned somber. After a long pause, he removed my hand, saying, "I talked to her about it. Emily doesn't want anyone else."
He embraced me, "Let's just wait a little longer. She's set to be discharged in a few days."
As Emily's calls persisted, Alex silenced the phone, his irritation apparent. I pretended not to notice as I watched the world pass by outside the window.
He left me at home and rushed back to the hospital. Left alone, I couldn't hold back any longer and ran to the bathroom, sick with worry.
In our early days, Alex would linger in his car outside my building after dropping me off, waiting for me to see him from my window before sleeping. He used to assure me of his unwavering love, defying even his parents' disapproval for the sake of our relationship.