Without Her

chapter 11 - he would do this for me?

Hardin's POV:

'What actually is COPD?' I enter in the search bar and wait for the answer page to pop open.

'Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a category of conditions that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD is a progressive condition that gets steadily worse. Over time, the body becomes less able to take in enough oxygen. This can ultimately result in death'

I take in a sharp breath, trying to calm my nerves. I feel a sudden adrenaline push in my body and just seeing the word 'death' is causing my insides to churn.

I keep researching and researching until I am mentally tired of the negative ness I've taken in.

Tessa is in stage 2 right now. That means she is in the moderate stage and it will only get worse overtime.

The doctor said there's high chances this is hereditary because Tessa doesn't smoke. I will fucking sue Tessa's mum or anyone if they gave this to her.

How am I supposed to live now that I know my Tessa's life is temporary. I never brought myself to think about any of us dying but whenever I did, it was always the thought that I'll die before her. There's no way in hell I will live to see Tessa dying.

Why the fuck am I thinking all this? Tessa isn't dying. She probably doesn't even have this disease for all that we know, this hospital could be a fraud or something.

Tessa's POV:

My alarm goes off at 9 am. Hardin isn't beside me when I wake up. I brush my teeth and go outside to make some coffee when I find him passed out on the couch.

Empty pot of coffee, his laptop, papers, pens and everything surrounding him. Looks like he was working all night.

By the posture he is sleeping in, he will surely get a neck sprain. So I clear out everything from his sides, without waking him up. I collect the scattered papers and it comes to my notice that these are not his work papers, these are notes on the disease I've been diagnosed with.

I scan through a few highlighted topics, 'Avoid eating' 'Physical activities' 'Breathing exercises' 'Best doctors' 'Important notes'

I cannot believe he would do this for me. I am taken by absolute surprise by his behavior. My heart is getting heavy seeing that he cares so much about it.

Last night we got into an argument and slept in terms of not talking to each other. And the first thing I see in the morning is this.

I keep the papers on the table, along with his laptop, and scoot beside him. Gently brushing off the hair from his forehead, I caress his gorgeous face that looks so innocent while he's sleeping. No wrinkled lines on his forehead or no pout on these plump lips of his.

His breath reeks of coffee, I wonder how much he had. I kiss the tip of his nose and nuzzle further into him.

"Thank you" I whisper as low as possible, not to wake him up. I have this courage now to thank him before he wakes up because no one can predict Hardin Scott's moods.

"For what?" his raspy voice whispers in my hair and I get startled because I didn't expect him to be awake.

"Everything" I reply, looking up at his closed eyes, his beautiful lashes pressed lightly.

He doesn't say anything and just holds me from falling down and pulls me in his chest.

"You really studied the whole night?" I ask him and he takes a long breath.