Chapter 40
The Night Everything Changed
The house had never been this quiet.
Not the peaceful kind of quiet.
The heavy kind.
The kind that sat in your chest and refused to move.
Lyra lay unconscious on the couch in the living room where she had collapsed earlier. The group had carried her there in panic, Alex refusing to let anyone else hold her.
Even now, hours later, he hadn't moved far.
Everyone was gathered around.
Ten people.
Ten hearts beating with the same fear.
Earlier – After Lyra Fainted
When Lyra's body suddenly went limp in the middle of the group hug, no one reacted for a second.
Then everything exploded.
"LYRA!"
Alex caught her before she hit the floor, pulling her into his arms.
Her skin felt cold.
Too cold.
"Lyra! Hey! Lyra wake up!" Alex's voice cracked as he shook her gently.
She didn't respond.
Nova's face turned pale instantly.
"She hasn't eaten for a week…" she whispered.
The room froze.
"What?" Kevin asked sharply.
Alex's head snapped toward her.
"What do you mean a week?"
Nova looked guilty.
"I tried… she refused. She said she wasn't hungry."
Ash felt his stomach drop.
Lyra hadn't just been sad.
She had been starving herself.
Because of them.
Because of what happened to Care.
Because of what happened to Lyra.
Because of everything.
Alex's voice shook.
"Someone call the doctor."
Cole already had his phone out.
"I'm calling."
Meanwhile Alex held Lyra close, his hand trembling as he brushed her hair away from her face.
Her breathing was shallow.
Too shallow.
"Lyra… please…" he whispered.
For the first time in years, Alex looked terrified.
Not angry.
Not strong.
Just scared.
Doctor's Visit
Thirty minutes later the doctor finished checking her.
The group stood outside Lyra's room like a line of prisoners waiting for their sentence.
Ash couldn't even lift his head.
Care stood quietly beside the wall.
Her eyes hadn't left the door.
Finally the doctor stepped out.
Everyone rushed forward.
"How is she?" Alex asked immediately.
The doctor sighed.
"She's extremely weak."
The words hit like a hammer.
"Her body collapsed from exhaustion, emotional stress, and lack of food."
Ash shut his eyes.
Every word felt like punishment.
"If she had continued like this for a few more days, it could have become very dangerous."
No one spoke.
The doctor looked around at all of them.
"Right now she just needs rest, food, and peace."
Then he pointed directly at Alex.
"And someone needs to stay with her tonight."
Alex answered instantly.
"I will."
The doctor nodded.
"Good."
Inside Lyra's Room
Lyra was lying on the bed peacefully now.
The soft yellow lamp beside her bed gave the room a warm glow.
Her breathing had become steadier.
But she still looked fragile.
Like glass.
Alex sat beside her bed in a chair.
He hadn't moved in hours.
The others slowly checked on her one by one before leaving for the night.
Kevin placed a hand on Alex's shoulder before leaving.
"Wake us if anything happens."
Alex nodded silently.
Soon the house fell quiet again.
Midnight
The clock ticked softly.
12:43 AM.
Alex was still watching her.
He hadn't slept.
He couldn't.
Every time Lyra shifted slightly in her sleep, his heart stopped.
His mind kept replaying everything.
Her collapsing.
Her cold hands.
The doctor's words.
A week.
She hadn't eaten for a week.
Because she blamed herself.
Suddenly Lyra moved.
Her fingers twitched slightly.
Alex leaned forward immediately.
"Lyra?"
Her eyelids fluttered.
Slowly…
She opened her eyes.
For a second she looked confused.
Then her eyes found him.
Alex.
Sitting beside her like he had never left.
Her voice came out soft and weak.
"Alex…?"
The relief that hit him was overwhelming.
He leaned closer.
"Yeah… I'm here."
Lyra tried to sit up.
Alex immediately stopped her.
"No. Don't move."
She frowned slightly.
"What happened?"
Alex hesitated.
Then he answered quietly.
"You fainted."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Oh…"
Silence filled the room again.
The Truth
Lyra looked at the ceiling.
Then whispered softly.
"Did I scare everyone…?"
Alex almost laughed.
Scare?
She had nearly destroyed them.
"You terrified us," he said honestly.
Her eyes softened.
"I'm sorry."
Alex shook his head.
"No. Don't apologize."
But Lyra looked guilty.
"I didn't mean to faint."
Alex exhaled slowly.
Then he said the thing that had been stuck in his chest all night.
"You also didn't mean to stop eating for a week?"
Lyra froze.
Her eyes widened slightly.
So they knew.
She looked away.
"I wasn't hungry."
Alex stood up suddenly.
His chair scraped loudly against the floor.
"Lyra."
His voice wasn't angry.
It was something worse.
Broken.
"You could have died."
The words hung heavy in the room.
Lyra blinked quickly.
Her eyes were suddenly wet.
"I wasn't trying to die."
Alex ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
"Then what were you trying to do?!"
His voice cracked.
Lyra flinched slightly.
Not from fear.
From guilt.
"I just…" her voice broke.
"I didn't feel like I deserved to eat."
The sentence shattered the room.
Alex stared at her.
"What?"
Lyra's tears finally spilled.
"Care suffered because of us."
Her voice trembled.
"Because of me."
Alex stepped closer to the bed slowly.
"Lyra—"
She shook her head.
"I keep remembering that day."
Her breathing became shaky.
"How we left her alone."
Her voice cracked.
"And I keep thinking…"
Her tears fell faster.
"If we had stayed…"
Alex sat beside her again immediately.
She whispered brokenly.
"Maybe nothing would have happened."
Alex looked at her with pain in his eyes.
"You can't blame yourself for that."
But Lyra whispered quietly.
"I already do."
The Moment
Alex stared at her for a long moment.
Then he suddenly spoke.
Very quietly.
"You're an idiot."
Lyra blinked.
"What?"
Alex leaned forward.
"You're an idiot."
His voice softened.
"But you're my idiot."
Lyra stared at him.
Confused.
Alex took a deep breath.
His heart was pounding so hard it hurt.
He had tried to ignore this for months.
But tonight…
Seeing her collapse…
Almost losing her…
It had broken something inside him.
He couldn't stay silent anymore.
Alex looked directly into her eyes.
"Lyra."
She swallowed nervously.
"Yeah…?"
His voice came out quieter than a whisper.
"I love you."
The words filled the room.
Lyra's brain stopped working.
Her heart skipped.
"What…?"
Alex let out a shaky breath.
"I love you."
His voice cracked slightly.
"I've loved you for a long time."
Lyra stared at him like the world had just flipped.
Alex continued slowly.
"I tried to ignore it."
"I tried to convince myself it was nothing."
"But tonight…"
His voice broke.
"When you fainted…"
His eyes filled with emotion.
"I thought I lost you."
Lyra's heart hurt hearing that.
Alex whispered.
"And that terrified me more than anything."
He looked straight at her.
"I don't care about the past."
"I don't care about mistakes."
"I don't care about the fights."
His voice softened.
"I just care about you."
Lyra's Heart
Lyra's tears were falling again.
But these were different.
Not guilt.
Not pain.
Something warmer.
Something she had been hiding for months.
She whispered softly.
"You idiot."
Alex blinked.
"What?"
Lyra gave a weak laugh through her tears.
"I liked you first."
Alex froze.
"What?"
She nodded.
"I just never said anything."
Alex stared at her in disbelief.
"You're kidding."
Lyra shook her head slowly.
"No."
Her voice was soft but honest.
"I was scared."
"Scared of ruining the friendship."
Alex sighed.
"So we were both idiots."
Lyra nodded slightly.
"Yeah."
The Promise
Alex gently held her hand.
His voice softened.
"But promise me something."
Lyra looked at him.
"What?"
Alex squeezed her hand lightly.
"Never hurt yourself like that again."
His eyes were serious.
"I can't lose you."
Lyra's chest tightened.
She nodded slowly.
"I promise."
Alex finally relaxed.
For the first time that night.
Then Lyra whispered quietly.
"Alex?"
"Hm?"
She looked at him with a small tired smile.
"I love you too."
Alex's heart exploded.
He leaned forward and gently pressed his forehead against hers.
Neither of them spoke.
They didn't need to.
For the first time in days…
Everything felt lighter.
Outside the room…
Kevin whispered to the others who had secretly been listening behind the door.
"I told you they liked each other."
Nova smacked his arm.
"Shut up."
Care smiled softly.
Finally.
After everything…
Something good had happened.
And inside the room…
Alex was still holding Lyra's hand.
Like he never planned to let go again.