A week had passed.
The hospital room hadn't changed.
Same walls.
Same stillness.
Same quiet rhythm of machines filling the space.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Time didn't feel real in here.
Just stretched.
Slow.
Unmoving.
Izana hadn't woken.
Not properly.
Only small signs.
A twitch.
A shift in breath.
Nothing more.
But he was alive.
And that was enough.
Leah stayed.
Every day.
Every night.
She only left when she had to.
To shower.
To change.
And even then—
she came back too quickly.
Like something pulled her back.
Like she couldn't stay away.
Dante and Elias came and went.
Checked on them.
Stayed for a while.
Left again.
But Leah stayed.
Always.
Zarek didn't stay quiet.
Not anymore.
Every morning—
he kicked.
Every night—
he kicked again.
At the same times.
Without fail.
The times Izana used to talk to him.
The times he used to press a kiss to her stomach.
The times he would say good morning… or goodnight.
Leah sat beside the bed.
Her hand holding Izana's.
Her other hand resting over her stomach.
Her shoulders were low.
Heavy.
Exhausted.
"…You didn't let me sleep again."
Her voice was soft.
Tired.
A kick answered her.
Leah let out a slow breath.
"…I know."
Another kick.
She leaned back slightly.
"…You don't care."
A faint smile appeared.
Then faded.
Her eyes moved to Izana.
Still unconscious.
Still unmoving.
"…He would've told you to calm down."
Another kick.
Leah shook her head slightly.
"…You would've ignored him too."
She adjusted slightly in her chair.
Her hand never leaving his.
"…Just wait a little longer."
Her voice softened.
"…He's still here."
Silence.
Then—
another kick.
Stronger.
Leah exhaled slowly.
"…You're doing it on purpose now."
A pause.
"…Aren't you."
The room stayed quiet.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Then—
something changed.
Small.
But different.
Leah stilled.
Her eyes snapped to Izana.
His fingers moved.
Just slightly.
"…Iz?"
Another twitch.
Stronger.
His hand tightened faintly around hers.
A low sound left his throat.
"…ngh…"
Leah stood immediately.
Her chair scraped softly behind her.
"…Hey."
Her voice sharpened.
"…Iz—can you hear me?"
His breathing shifted.
Uneven now.
His fingers moved again.
Leah stepped closer.
"…Look at me."
His head shifted slightly.
Then—
slowly—
his eyes opened.
Barely.
Unfocused.
Heavy.
Leah's breath caught.
"…Iz…"
His gaze moved.
Slow.
Searching.
Then—
it found her.
And stayed there.
Leah exhaled shakily.
Relief hitting all at once.
"…Hey…"
Her voice softened instantly.
"…It's me."
His lips parted slightly.
Nothing at first.
Just breath.
Then—
"…Li…"
Weak.
Barely there.
But real.
Leah's eyes filled.
"…Yeah."
She leaned closer.
Careful.
"…I'm here."
His fingers tightened faintly around hers.
Like he needed to be sure.
Leah squeezed back immediately.
"…Don't move."
Soft.
"…You're still weak."
His eyes stayed on her.
Heavy.
But aware.
Then—
a sudden kick.
Strong.
Leah flinched slightly.
Her hand moved to her stomach.
"…Zarek…"
Another kick.
Then another.
Leah exhaled.
"…He's been doing that all week."
She looked at Izana.
"…Every morning."
A pause.
"…Every night."
Izana's gaze shifted.
Down.
Toward her stomach.
Leah noticed.
"…Do you want to—."
She stopped.
Izana's hand moved.
Slow.
Weak.
But trying.
Leah helped him.
Guiding his hand gently.
Down.
To her stomach.
His palm rested there.
Light.
Unsteady.
But there.
For a moment—
nothing.
Then—
Zarek kicked.
Right against his hand.
Izana's fingers twitched.
His breath caught faintly.
Leah watched him closely.
"…That's him."
Another kick.
Then—
slowly—
it stopped.
Completely.
Leah blinked.
"…He stopped…"
Her voice softened.
"…He never stops."
Izana's hand stayed there.
Still.
Warm.
Present.
Leah's eyes softened.
"…He knows it's you."
Silence.
Izana's fingers shifted slightly.
A faint movement.
Then—
his lips parted again.
Barely.
His voice was quiet.
Weak.
Almost nothing.
"…Zarek…"
Leah's breath caught.
She leaned closer immediately.
"…He can hear you."
Izana's thumb moved faintly against her stomach.
His voice came again.
Broken.
Soft.
"…morning…"
A pause.
His breathing struggled slightly.
"…good… morning…"
Leah's eyes filled instantly.
"…You're saying it to him."
Her voice trembled.
Another small movement came from her stomach.
Not a kick.
Just a shift.
Leah smiled faintly through tears.
"…He's listening."
Izana's voice came again.
Even weaker now.
"…be… good…"
A pause.
"…don't… trouble… her…"
Leah let out a soft, broken laugh.
"…You're still saying that."
His fingers pressed faintly.
Then—
"…Daddy's… here…"
The words were barely audible.
But clear.
Leah's hand tightened over his.
"…He knows."
Her voice softened.
"…He feels you."
Silence followed.
Then—
Izana's voice broke again.
"…sorry…"
Leah shook her head immediately.
"…No."
Soft.
Firm.
"…Don't."
But he continued.
"…almost…"
A pause.
"…left…"
Leah's expression tightened.
"…Iza—."
"…him…"
His voice trembled.
"…without… a father…"
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Still.
Leah's grip tightened.
"…No."
Her voice was stronger now.
"…You didn't."
Izana's hand trembled faintly.
"…I almost did."
Leah shook her head again.
"…But you didn't."
A pause.
Her voice softened again.
"…You stayed."
She leaned closer.
"…That's what matters."
Izana didn't respond.
His eyes were heavy again.
Fading.
But still open.
Leah covered his hand more securely over her stomach.
"…He's right here."
A pause.
"…And you're here."
Silence.
Izana's fingers moved slightly.
A weak squeeze.
Then slowly—
his eyes started to close.
Leah noticed immediately.
"…It's okay."
Soft.
"…Rest."
A pause.
"…I'm not going anywhere."
His hand relaxed.
Still resting over her stomach.
Still there.
Leah stayed.
Holding him.
Holding both of them.
Her voice barely a whisper.
"…You're here."
A pause.
"…Both of you."
The room went quiet again.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
But now—
it didn't feel like waiting anymore.
It felt like something had finally come back.