Becoming strangers again (Lily and Ryan)



LILY

The sharp, stabbing pain in my head forced me to grope blindly for the bottle of aspirin I always kept in the drawer beside my bed. My fingers brushed over the smooth surface of the table, searching, but I couldn't find it. Frustrated and disoriented, I had no choice but to open my eyes.

The first thing that greeted me was a plain, white ceiling. My gaze lingered on it, confused. There was no chandelier hanging above me, no familiar glow of the bedside lamp. Where was I?

"Lily?" A voice called out softly, filled with worry. It was Ryan. His face came into view as he leaned over me, his eyes filled with concern. "I'll get the doctor," he said quickly, his tone firm yet panicked. Without waiting for a response, he turned and hurried away, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the room. I heard the door open and then close behind him.

I lay there, motionless, my mind trying to make sense of what was happening. Why was I here? How did I end up in a hospital bed? And why was Ryan here with me instead of being in New York, where he was supposed to be?

The door creaked open again after what felt like an eternity. Ryan walked in, but he wasn't alone. A tall figure followed behind him, and I blinked twice, struggling to process what I was seeing. It was Amell. For a moment, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, but no-there he stood.

Wait... he's the doctor Ryan called?

Amell had no business examining me. I wasn't his patient, and there was absolutely nothing wrong with my brain. “How do you feel?" he asked, his sharp eyes scanning my face as if he were searching for some hidden clue.

Ignoring his overly intense gaze, I attempted to sit up. Ryan was instantly at my side, his hand on my arm, steadying me. "My head is pounding," I muttered, leaning back into the pillows to get comfortable. "Call a nurse to bring me something for this headache."

Before Ryan could move, Amell shook his head. “That won't be necessary. It's likely just the effects of the medication. Once it wears off, you should feel fine." He reached for the foldable stool in the corner, dragged it closer to my bedside, and sat down.

"I know this might not be the best time," he said carefully, "but do you remember what happened?"

What happened? Clearly, I was supposed to recall something significant, though my throbbing headache made that task seem daunting. I closed my eyes, letting my head rest fully against the pillow, trying to sift through the fog in my mind.

The memory hit me faster than I expected, as vivid as if it had just happened. My eyes snapped open, and the words spilled out of my mouth before I could stop them.

"I fell asleep," I blurted, the realization sending chills through me.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Amell and Ryan exchanged a brief, unreadable glance before turning their attention back to me. Ryan cleared his throat. "Lily, you were involved in an accident," he said softly. "You've been unconscious for over twenty-four hours."

Accident? My heart lurched. What was he talking about? The word didn't make sense, didn't fit with anything I could remember. Without thinking, I tried to sit up again, but the sudden movement sent a sharp, searing pain through my head. I winced, clutching my temple. Ryan moved closer, his hands steadying me, but I brushed him off. "What do you mean I was in an accident?” I demanded, my voice rising with confusion and panic. Amell nodded, his expression calm but serious. "You were brought here by an ambulance," he explained. "It seems the impact caused "

But I wasn't listening anymore. The words bounced off me, useless. If I had been in an accident, then what about my sons? My stomach twisted violently as the thought hit me, and my gaze shot to Ryan. "What about Liam, Noah, and Ethan?” I interrupted, my voice shaking. "What happened to them?"

The silence that followed was deafening. Ryan's face, usually so composed, crumbled slightly as he avoided my eyes. The sudden sadness clouding his expression made my chest tighten in dread.

“Ryan,” I said again, more forcefully this time, though my voice cracked under the weight of my fear. My eyes began to glisten, my fingers trembling as I gripped the edge of the blanket. “Where are our sons?"

Ryan opened his mouth as if to speak but closed it again, the words seeming to fail him. The sadness in his eyes grated against my nerves, fueling the rising panic in my chest.

"Stop looking at me like that and answer my question!" I yelled, my voice cracking. "Where are my boys?!"

"They weren't in the car," he said quietly, almost a whisper. "You and the driver were the only ones found in the wreckage. Only you two were brought to the hospital."

I froze. "What do you mean they weren't in the car?" I demanded. "Have you lost your mind? We were on our way back from school! I remember it clearly-I was in the car with them when I inhaled that stupid perfume your driver handed to me. That's when I fell asleep!" My breathing quickened, my heart racing as the horrifying realization crept in. "They were in the car with me! What do you mean they can't be found?!"

Ryan reached for my hand, his touch soft. "The cops are searching," he said, his tone soothing but strained. "I'm sure they're going to find them." His words did nothing to ease the storm in my mind. How could I be here, lying in a hospital bed, when my children-our children-were missing? All three of them. My chest felt like it would cave.

I couldn't stay here. I shouldn't be here. Without thinking, I yanked the IV drip from my hand, ignoring the sharp sting and the bead of blood that followed. Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I tried to stand. My knees wobbled, but I didn't care-I had to leave.

Ryan reacted instantly. His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back down onto the bed. "Lily, stop!" he said firmly, holding me in place. "You can't help them if you're collapsing. Let the cops do their job."

"I'm already going crazy with worry over our missing boys," Ryan whispered, his voice raw and broken. His grip on me tightened as though letting go might shatter him completely. "Please, Lily, don't make me worry about your health too." pressed a desperate kiss to my neck, his warmth contrasting sharply with the icy dread spreading through me. "If you care about me even a little, you'll stay here, on this bed, and focus on getting better. We need you strong so we can assist the cops with every piece of information that might help find our boys."

His words only fueled my anguish. "They're sick choked out through my sobs, thrashing against his hold. Tears streamed down my face as panic turned into desperation. “Liam and Noah were sick, Ryan! They need me! Who will take care of them? Who will fend for them if I don't?"

"Lily,” Ryan cried out, his own voice trembling. His hands held me steady. "I need you to calm down, please. I swear on my life—that I will find them.

I will bring them back home, safe and sound, where they belong."

How could he be so certain? His words, though comforting, felt hollow in my panic-stricken mind. I couldn't hold still, couldn't let myself be consoled. I needed my boys back in my arms. I couldn't breathe without them.

I continued to thrash, fighting against Ryan's hold, my body shaking with the desperate urge to escape. "Let me go!" I screamed, my voice raw, pleading. “I don't want comfort, I want my sons! I want them back!”

I struggled against him, my chest tight with grief and fear, but then, suddenly, I felt a sharp sting at the base of my neck. My hand flew to the spot instinctively, but when I touched it, there was no blood-no sign of injury. Just the lingering warmth of something foreign.

Turning quickly, I saw Amell standing just behind me, a syringe in his hand, now slipping it back into his pocket. That was when it hit me.

I had been sedated.