A Happy Ending
Seth
My body felt heavy, like I was stuck in a bad dream I couldn't wake up from. I heard soft beeping and quiet voices, but they sounded far away, like I was underwater. My whole body hurt, and there was a heavy feeling in my chest.
Slowly, I opened my eyes. A bright white ceiling came into view, and the light made me blink. My throat was dry, and I felt sore all over—but I was alive.
Then I heard a weak voice. "Seth?"
I turned my head a little and saw my parents sitting beside me. Their eyes were red from crying. My mom looked like she had been crying for a long time. My dad, who was usually calm, looked really worried.
"Mom... Dad..." I said, my voice rough and quiet, barely more than a whisper.
My mom let out a small sob and quickly grabbed my hand. "You're awake," she cried. "Thank God, you're awake!" I wanted to tell them not to cry, to say I was okay—but I couldn't find the words. So instead, I just squeezed her hand gently, letting her know I was still here.
My dad rested his hand on my shoulder, but he didn't look like his usual calm self. His voice was shaky, filled with emotion, and his hand, though strong, was gentle.
"You scared us, son," he said softly. "You were in a coma for three days... but the doctors said you're a fighter."
Three days? I blinked slowly, trying to make sense of everything. The accident... the bus sliding... the crash... Ivan—
My chest tightened as the memories flooded back.
"Ivan..." I whispered, my voice dry and weak. "What about Ivan? Is he okay?"
My parents looked at each other for a moment before my mom gave me a gentle, comforting smile. "He's okay, sweetheart," she said. "He only got a small injury. He stayed with you the whole time, but we told him to go home and rest. I'm sure he'll be back soon."
A wave of relief rushed through me, making me feel weak all over. Ivan was safe. That was all I needed to hear. I let out a shaky breath and sank deeper into the hospital bed. The tight feeling in my chest eased a bit, but I was already starting to feel tired again.
My mom gently brushed my hair back with her fingers. Her touch was soft and comforting. "It's a miracle, Seth," she whispered. "The doctors couldn't believe how strong you were. We're so proud of you."
I wanted to speak—say something—but no words came out. So, I just closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I was alive. Ivan was alive. And for now, that was enough.
A small smile formed on my lips, though even that tiny effort made me feel more tired.
"I'm just... glad everyone's okay," I said quietly.
The days that followed passed in a blur as I slowly started to recover. Nurses came in and out, checking my vitals, giving me medicine, and making sure I was okay. My parents were always close by, staying beside me as much as they could. They talked to me when I was awake and even when I slept, I could still feel them there, quietly keeping watch.
And then... there was Ivan. He came to visit me whenever he could, usually after school, bringing stories about our classmates and making the room feel lighter just by being there. His visits were always the highlight of my day. Even when the pain was bad, seeing him smile made everything feel a little better.
The pain didn't go away—it stayed as a dull ache, reminding me how close I had come to losing everything. But each day, my will to keep going got stronger. I had survived for a reason, and I wasn't going to waste this second chance.
Little by little, I started to get stronger. Walking was hard at first—my body was weak from being in bed for so long. But I kept going, driven by one thought: I wanted to stand next to Ivan again, not just as someone who survived, but as someone truly living.
Graduation was coming soon, and I saw it like a finish line. It wasn't just about finishing school—it was about moving forward, about stepping into a future I had almost lost. This time, I wasn't going to waste it.
The familiar sounds of the classroom filled my ears as I stood at the doorway, holding my bag tightly. My heart was beating fast, a mix of nerves and excitement building inside me. It had been weeks since I was last here, and now—after everything that had happened—I was finally back.
I took a deep breath and walked into the room. At first, it was quiet. Then, when my classmates saw me, the room suddenly got loud. People gasped, cheered, and some even cried. Chairs moved as everyone stood up and ran toward me, talking all at once.
"Seth! You're back!"
"We were so worried about you!"
"You really scared us!"
Before I knew it, I was surrounded. Some of my classmates patted me gently on the back, like they were scared of hurting me. Others were wiping away tears, clearly moved. A few just smiled big, like they were really happy to see me again.
Their welcome was almost too much—but in the best way possible. For the first time in weeks, I felt like everything was starting to feel normal again. Like I was finally home.
As things calmed down, our teacher walked over to me. Her face showed both concern and kindness.
"Seth, it's really good to have you back," she said gently. "But you don't need to take the exam today. You've been through a lot—we can schedule it for another time when you're ready."
I looked her in the eyes and shook my head. "Thank you, ma'am," I said, my voice firm. "But I've been studying while I was recovering. I'm ready. Please let me take it."
She looked at me for a moment, then gave a small, proud smile and nodded. "Okay, if you're really sure."
I let out a quiet breath and felt a little proud. I had made it through the hardest part. Now it was time to keep going. I smiled at my teacher and walked to my seat. The test still made me a bit nervous, but after everything I had been through, it just felt like one more thing to face—and I was ready.
As I picked up my pen and started answering the questions, I was surprised at how clear my mind felt. The answers came easily, and I was more focused than I had been in weeks. Time flew by, and before I knew it, the final bell rang—it was the end of the exam.
I put my pen down and let out a deep breath, feeling a wave of relief. For the first time in a long time, I felt proud of myself—like I was really moving forward.
But there was still one more thing I had to do.
I turned to the back of the classroom without thinking, where Ivan sat with his usual calm, unreadable look. He hadn't said much since I returned, but I knew—he was waiting, just like always.
"Come with me," I said, grabbing his wrist and pulling him toward the door before he could say anything.
"Whoa, what's going on?" Ivan laughed, surprised, hurrying to keep up with me.
I didn't say a word, just led him through the busy hallways until we reached the stairs. Once we got to the rooftop, I let go of his wrist and walked ahead, letting the wind hit my face.
The view was wide and peaceful—tall buildings reached for the sky, tiny cars moved far below, and the sunset painted the horizon in soft colors. Up here, it was calm. Like the world had slowed down just for us. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves, then finally turned to face Ivan.
There was something I had to say—something I couldn't keep inside anymore.
Without a word, I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around Ivan, holding him tight. My heart was beating so hard, I was sure he could hear it. At first, he froze, surprised. But then, slowly, he hugged me back, holding on just as tightly.
I closed my eyes and held him tightly, feeling how warm he was, how steady his breathing was. He was really here. He was alive. A wave of relief rushed over me, and I couldn't hold back my voice.
"I'm so glad you're okay," I whispered, my throat feeling tight. Tears filled my eyes, but I didn't care. "I really thought I lost you."
Ivan froze for a moment, then pulled back just enough to look at me. His usual calm eyes were different now—filled with something deep and real.
"I should be the one saying that," he said quietly, his voice a little shaky. "You're the one who almost died, you idiot."
We both laughed softly, our voices a little unsteady, but full of feeling. I wiped my tears away, a bit embarrassed, but I didn't really mind. The heavy feeling I'd been holding in—my fear, guilt, and pain—started to fade, like I could finally breathe.
"I'm just really happy to see you," I said, my voice calmer and clear this time.
Ivan sighed softly and gave a small, tired smile. "Same here," he said. He looked away for a moment, like he was trying to find the right words, then turned back to meet my eyes, his expression more serious now.
I stepped back from the hug a little, my face feeling hot and my heart pounding like crazy. My hand moved on its own, reaching into my pocket and touching the smooth, cool metal I had kept with me since that day.
"Ivan..." I said softly, my voice almost shaking. My hand trembled as I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small box I'd been keeping for weeks. "There's something I want to give you."
Ivan looked at me, his playful smirk replaced by a gentler, more curious expression. "What is it?"
I took a deep breath and slowly opened the box, showing him the two simple silver rings I had bought during our field trip. The sunlight hit them just right, making them glimmer quietly in the open box. My hands were sweaty, my chest tight with nerves, but I looked up and met his eyes.
"I got these during the field trip," I began, my voice a little unsteady. "Back then, I didn't really know why. I just... felt like I had to. Like it was a way to hold on—a promise to myself that I'd protect you this time. That I wouldn't let anything happen to you."
Ivan's eyes widened as he looked down at the rings. He didn't say anything at first, and his usual playful expression was gone. In its place was something softer. More serious.
"Before the accident... I was planning to give you one," I said, my voice unsteady. "But I didn't know how... or if I even should." I paused, trying to steady my breathing as my fingers gripped the box tighter. "But after everything that happened, I couldn't ignore it anymore. I realized just how much you mean to me."
Ivan's eyes widened a little, his mouth slightly open like he wanted to say something—but he stayed quiet. The silence made my heart pound even louder in my ears, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. The words kept coming before I could hold them back.
"I know this might be too much, and I don't expect anything from you. But I couldn't go through all of that—everything we've been through—without telling you how I feel." I exhaled shakily, my heart thudding in my ears. "I care about you, Ivan. More than just a friend."
I dropped my gaze for a second, afraid of what I'd see in his expression. "And it's okay if you don't feel the same," I added quickly. "I just... I want to be by your side. No matter what."
My voice shook, and everything I said started to feel heavier. I looked down, scared and unsure. The silence between us felt long and heavy.
Then, Ivan gently placed his hand over mine.
"Hey," he said softly. His voice was so warm and calm, it made me feel a little safer. I looked up and saw him smiling—really smiling—and it made my heart skip a beat.
Without saying anything, Ivan picked up one of the rings from the box and slid it onto his finger. He didn't look away from me. In his eyes, I saw something change—something more than just friendship.
He stepped closer and gently held my face in his hands. I could barely breathe.
"You've always been there for me," Ivan said, his voice calm but full of feeling. "You even risked your life for me. How could I not feel the same way?"
I froze, my heart beating fast as Ivan leaned in, slowly closing the space between us. When his lips touched mine, the kiss was soft and gentle—everything I didn't even know I needed. It felt like it said all the things we hadn't been able to say out loud, all the feelings we had kept inside. For a moment, the rest of the world just faded away.
When we finally pulled back, our foreheads rested against each other. We were quiet, just breathing, and I could feel his heartbeat against mine—strong and steady.
"I'm glad you told me," Ivan whispered, his voice quiet but full of meaning. "Because I want to be with you too. Always."
I felt tears start to form in my eyes, but this time they weren't from fear or sadness. They came from the relief and happiness of knowing I wasn't alone anymore.
"Always," he said again, his voice a little shaky but full of certainty. I couldn't help but smile. My heart felt lighter and more at peace than it had in a long time. This was real. And it was everything I had hoped for. The rooftop, once just a quiet place to escape, now felt like it belonged to us—a place where we finally shared what we had been hiding for so long.