Alex's POV:

The lights are blinding.

That's the only thing I can think of.

Can someone turn off the damn lights?

My eyes eventually adjust, and I find myself connected to a few machines. I notice my heart monitor on one of them, staring at it momentarily. It's almost crazy how the heart works. Through every high and low, it still beats in your chest without fail. It pushes on even if your body wants to give up. All the damage it takes is almost insignificant, as it still continuously beats until it's your time to pass into eternity.

A nurse comes in, asking me a few questions about how I was feeling and ensuring that I hadn't lost my memory, which I hadn't.

"What's the last thing you remember?" she asks sweetly.

I search my mind for a few moments, letting the events of Christmas wash over me. Then, I remember. "I found out the love of my life was dead, so I started running."

"The... love of your life? Is that not your boyfriend?"

"I don't have a boyfriend," I state, confused.

"Then who is Jack Barakat?"

"Don't say his name, please."

"Oh, okay." She takes a deep breath. "You almost died due to complications with hypothermia. It's a miracle you were found when you were, or you might not have been as lucky. We thought you were going into a coma, but it only lasted thirty-four hours. It is December twenty-seventh. We can release you after we do a few protocol tests. Sound good?"

I nod, and she turns to leave the room. "Thank you," I say after her. She flashes me a quick smile before vanishing into the hallway. I almost feel bad for her. Sure, nurses choose their career paths, but it has to be stressful sometimes. You almost hold people's lives in your hands- one wrong move and the patient could lose their life.

The tests are simple, and they're done within half an hour. Standing up is a little bit awkward, having not used my legs in over a day, but I'm quickly used to it. Rian does a few things at the front desk before he approaches me, wrapping me in a tight hug, which I return. I'm glad I didn't die.

"You didn't let us tell you the news," he says as we walk to the car.

"You didn't need to, I know that he-,"

"Wait, you don't remember?" I turn to him, confused. Did I actually forget something?

"Um, no?"

His eyes widen at my response, which makes me even more confused. "Jack saved your life, Alex. How do you not remember?"

"How? He's dead!"

"No, he's not. I knew he was alive on Christmas. I found out three days beforehand. That night when I met up with Zack was when I found out he was alive. He had been living with Zack all these years. He and I never connected the dots, but we finally did. We decided that would be a good Christmas surprise, but you took it the wrong way and didn't even let us finish."

I open and close my mouth, unable to form words, so he continues. "You took off running, and I ran after you. Zack got Jack from upstairs and we all got into our cars. We split up to find you, and Jack found you first. He called me on the way to the hospital, he said you were unconscious and didn't have much longer to live. He didn't want to leave the hospital that night. He was a complete wreck. We've had to force him not to come by here anymore because he would just be miserable."

Jack is alive.

My Jack Barakat is alive.

And he still cares about me.

"I need to see him," I say. Rian nods, a smile spreading across his face.

"I figured you might say that. It's good to have you back," he says. We approach his car and he motions to the backseat. "I brought a change of clothes for you, since I figured you wouldn't want to stay in your hospital clothes." I nod thankfully, slipping on the skinny jeans and-

"Wait, who's sweatshirt is this?" I ask.

"Oh, it's a new one of Jack's. He said he wanted you to wear it when you woke up."

"You're kidding."

"See for yourself."

I pull the sweatshirt, immediately sensing Jack's scent. It was ever so slightly chocolatey with some vanilla mixed in. It wasn't strong at all, but it was there. I knew that scent better than anything in the world. That was my safety scent. It made me feel at home more than four walls and a door ever could.

"It actually is," I say breathlessly.

"Told you, fucker," Rian teases, punching my shoulder playfully. "Now are we gonna see him or stand here?" I roll my eyes and jump in the passenger seat as he starts the car, pulling out of the parking lot, driving down the roads that lead to Zack's- and Jack's- house.

"Do you promise me that he's actually alive?" I ask.

"Yes, Alex, I promise. If it weren't for Jack, you'd be dead right now," he assures me.

That's when I remember it. Him taking me into his arms and holding me close to his chest as I was freezing to death. Him frantically telling me not to die. My feeble 'I love you' followed by his broken 'I love you too, Lex, I love you so much' before I succumbed to the darkness.

"Rian-," I whisper.

"Are you okay?"

"I remember."

"What do you remember?"

"Jack saving me."

"Oh," he says. He didn't say much, but his relief spilled from that one simple word.

We pull into the driveway, me taking a deep breath in attempt to calm the butterflies that swarm in my stomach. Rian gives me a reassuring smile as he knocks on the front door, which is answered by Zack after a few moments.

"Alex!" he exclaims, hugging me. "Glad you're okay. Jack is upstairs, since I'm sure you want to see him now."

"I'm sorry for what happened. I overreacted and didn't think-," I start.

"Hey, you're okay, that's all that matters. Go get your boy," he says, giving me a warm smile.

"Thank you for everything," I reply, walking up the staircase.

"Second door on the right!" he calls after me.

I stand outside the door, my hand hovering over the chestnut colored door. This would change everything. Half of me didn't even think Jack would be there. He's been gone for so long that it'll be hard to adjust the fact that he's alive. I take one last deep breath before knocking three times, my heart dropping when the door doesn't open. What did I expect?

I turn to go back down the stairs when I hear a door creak open from behind me. I slowly turn around, my eyes immediately getting lost in a pair of deep brown ones. It was the same pair of deep brown eyes that set my heart on fire all those years ago, and it has the same effect on me to this very day.

"Jack?" I whisper.