Lifespan Deathwatch

[Damien McEwan]

As the pair walked up the street, their conversation flowed back and forth down a stream of consciousness as they tend to do.

After arriving at the medical center and entering the elevator, Alia steers the conversation.

"Can I be honest with you?" she asked.

"Have you ever asked if you could be dishonest with me?" He asked back.

Nivek's retort was quick. She was simply leading him to agree to hear what she wanted to tell him, but, he did the unexpected and it caught her off balance. She liked that.

It's little moments like these that have really warmed her opinion of him over the weeks.

She decided to adapt and begin to say some things she didn't plan for and declared to him, "I owe you an apology"

As they continue to approach their floor, Alia once again found herself having to choose her words carefully. When she inhaled to speak, she once more was caught off balance when he told her, "Apology accepted" in a way that made clear to her that nothing more needs to be said.

She liked that even more.

Once they arrived at the nurses station, Alia asks for the room number of a patient, and while she waits for the answer to be found, she turns to Nivek and says, "You should take a seat and wait here. I won't be long."

"No." he told her flatly." He stood in front of her, gently rested his hands on her shoulders and continued: I know you think I'm an idiot. I deserve that, but don't think I'm stupid. That, I don't deserve."

'He's right' she thought to herself, and didn't realize she averted her gaze downward until he softened his tone and said, "Hey. Look at me."

When she did, he went on: "You told me that you were hoping I'd come with you, and that's exactly what I'm doing."

Nivek turned to the nurse, got the room number from her, and headed down the corridor.

'There. He did it to me again.' she thought with a fair amount of guilt. She is beginning to understand how Jaina fell for this guy so quickly, and couldn't help but remember back to the night when she whispered in his ear and said, "Say my name."

"Alia! You coming!?" He asked from down the hall.

'That will have to do.' she said in her mind as she snapped out of her reverie.

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