~Aria~

I had to pretend to be asleep to get Damon to leave my hospital room.

But even at that, he didn't leave my side.

He watched me quietly, his hands holding onto mine, like he wouldn't let go even if the world was crashing. I held my breathing, afraid he'd notice how my heart was racing…afraid he would notice how my body was feeling so giddy….

After a while, he finally stood up after securing the bed cover over me. Before he strode out, he bent, kissed my forehead, kissed my cheeks and when he got to my lips, he lingered, brushing his thumb softly on it before finally...