Prying my eyes open, I realize I cried myself to sleep.

Cried... touching my face I confirm I cried real tears.

Looking up I see Liam's face, and... well if I didn't know any better, I'd say he's sleeping too? I thought he said he doesn't sleep?

His arms are wrapped around me and my face was buried in his chest until moments ago - we're squeezed together on this tiny hospital bed where he held me while I fell apart.

Despite everything, looking up at his peaceful face I can't help but smile... a small thing. Even I can tell it's fragile.

But he stayed... I sent him away, and he hid here anyway in case I might need him. He stayed close, and when I called for him he was there...

And it meant absolutely everything to me. Means everything to me.

He means everything to me.

"Good mornin- oh! Um..."

My eyes pan to the door and watch the nurse falter in the doorway as her eyes move to...

No way...

"Um, listen," she says awkwardly, "you, uh... you can't do that here. This is a hospital... look, I'll... I'll be back in a few minutes, okay? Just... uh... if you could, uh... be ready when I come back... that'd be ideal."

And with that she spun on her heel and dashed out of the room, leaving me gaping after her in shock.

My eyes snapped up and found Liam's - wide and bugging out of his head.

"Liam?!" I gasped, frozen in place.

"She... she could... I don't..." he stuttered, clearly just as shocked as me.

We said we wanted to test and see if others could see him now... but I don't think either of us really dared to hope it was actually possible.

"Y-you should... get up and..." I mutter, blushing with the understanding that we just got caught lying together in a hospital bed.

"Right! Of course!" he said quickly, detangling himself from me carefully before taking a seat beside the bed.

The moment he was reseated, his eyes wide, face pink, and clearly still in a daze, the nurse returned. She was also blushing, and her smile was awkward as she came in.

"I-it's not what you think," I tried to explain, "w-we just... I w-was crying and-"

"It's okay hun," she said, her face softening and a bit of sadness creeping in, "just took me by surprise, that's all. I'm glad you had someone to help you through the night."

Nodding somberly, I look down at my hands in my lap as the reality of yesterday starts to seep back into my mind.

"Is... is he... is Austin okay?" I whispered, a weird clash of numbness and sadness warring in my chest.

"I don't know, hun," she said softly, "let's focus on you, okay? The drugs have had time to process through your system and you're safe to head home now. We're already preparing for your discharge. Do you have someone at home to help you out?"

"Liam," I nodded, not really thinking about my answer as the conflict and confusion around Austin continue to take over my mind.

I was only vaguely aware of her fussing around and taking my blood pressure, removing my IV, and other such things.

"Good," she said, though her voice sounded far away, "the doctor will be in shortly to review some things, but you'll be able to head out shortly."

I think she waited for a response, but I just couldn't seem to get out of my head enough to be aware of what was going on around me. My mind, now awake and less in shock, began to spiral on everything that had happened...

All I had was Omi. Omi was the light I sought no matter how dark things got.

When I lost her, I told myself I didn't just have Omi... I also had Austin. Sure, he's a pain in the ass, pushy, and sometimes a little needy... but he's important to me. My best friend. I think I could call that love, even if it's not the kind of love he wanted it to be... if I considered anyone family other than Omi, it would be him.

In those first few months before Liam spoke to me, Austin was there to help me through everything. He was even the first one I thought to tell about Liam, even though I worried how he'd react.  I trusted him completely - he had a key to my house, the pin to my phone, and my complete and total faith that he always meant well...

And he destroyed it.

He took what we had and ripped it to shreds because it wasn't enough. He lied to me when he said it was okay if things never changed... when he told me what we had was perfect as it was. He lied and then he shattered everything we had... and I...

It wasn't until arms slowly encircled me and my head was gently pulled into a chest that my mind cleared - even just slightly.

As if his strength could give me strength, I wrapped my arms around him and held him as tightly as I could while sitting on the hospital bed. I know he must be at a weird angle, bent over the railings and holding me like this... but he doesn't complain and I don't mention it.

Because right now I just need him.

"I'm here, May," Liam murmured, stroking my head gently, "I'm right here."

--

Discharge was a bit more complicated than I expected since Liam didn't drive to get me, but we eventually got a medical transport back to my house and they dropped us off at the door.

It was weird watching the doctor and the driver interact with Liam, and if it was weird for me I can only imagine how it must have felt for him. Despite often pausing after being spoken to, as if it took him a moment to register they could possibly speak to him, he handled it all like a champ.

He, like me, breathed a sigh of relief when we got home though.

A sigh that became a choked inhale when I saw that everything was exactly as we left it.

The door was busted in when we walked in, the dinner we ate was left on the coffee table, the empty bottle of wine on the floor, the bowls of weirdly caked and dried liquid that used to be ice cream... and the small patch of what I assume must be Austin's blood was visible through the bedroom door on the floor by the bed.

It was so incredibly overwhelming my knees almost gave out.

"May," Liam whispered, pulling me in close, "it's all going to be okay. Let's start with one thing at a time, okay? Why don't you call a contractor about the door? I'll clean up the food. One step at a time."

"Please stay," I whispered, staring at the blood stain, "please... just..."

His arms tightened for a second before he spun me in his arms and held my head to his chest. He's as real now as any person could be... and he's warm. A warmth I desperately need because I just feel so... cold.

If he weren't here I think I'd go completely numb.

"When Omi saved me," I said softly, "I didn't feel anything. It was like all my feelings disappeared that day, and nothing felt real. I didn't even want to go to school. I just wanted to be with Omi and hide. 

She gave me a few months, but eventually she made me go back to school... and the very first day I saw some kids beating Austin up. For the first time since Omi saved me, I felt something... I was pissed. I couldn't stand seeing someone being beat up and no one doing anything about it, so I grabbed a stick and beat them all like pinatas."

I felt his breath stutter as he placed his cheek on my head, holding me in silence as I spoke so quietly I wondered if he could really hear me.

"He's been with me ever since that day, whether I wanted him to or not. Even when we grew up and went to different universities, he never left me for long. When I lost Omi, he was here. I thought Austin... I thought... I thought he was my family. I thought he accepted me even though I can't fall in love like other people. Even though I'm broken. I-I thought... he was my friend."

I clung to him then. No tears. I didn't even feel the prickle that sometimes made me think I might be able to finally cry. Instead, I just feel... hollow. Gutted, like Austin dug around inside my soul and scraped out the hope he helped foster after Omi died.

Is everyone destined to leave me? Will Liam leave too?

"I'm not going anywhere, May," Liam whispered as if reading my mind, "I'm right here, and I'm going to stay here as long as you want me. Just like I promised."

"Please," I choked, gripping him as tightly as I could - as if the action would anchor him to me in a way words couldn't guarantee, "please... please stay. Please."

I didn't call the contractor. Liam didn't clean up the food. We stood there in the center of my living room as I clung to Liam - my last shred of hope.  I couldn't think, couldn't breathe... I just begged him, over and over - like repeating a prayer.

Please stay.

I don't remember falling asleep. I don't really remember anything at all other than pleading with every power in the universe to keep Liam by my side. I just know as I open my eyes slowly that I'm in bed, in my room, and Liam isn't beside me.

Confused, I sit up and look around - how did I even get in here? How long have I been here?

My eyes dart to the carpet and the small puddle that had looked black now looks like a very, very awkward pink with white marks around it. Grimacing, I can only assume Liam tried his best and ended up bleaching the carpet in his effort to remove the blood.

The whole carpet has to go, I immediately decide.

Next I move my gaze to the bathroom door, and sure enough - just like Liam said - it was bashed in. The frame is broken and splintered and the door knob looks bent to hell.

Guess I need two new doors rather than one.

Sighing and trying to focus on things I can control like my therapist used to tell me to do, I got up and went about my morning routine like I was going to get ready for work.

Routine is something I can control. Me and my behaviors are mine and mine alone.

I repeat all the old things I used to repeat to myself back then, and I find comfort - small as it might be - in the reminders that I used to cling to for stability. It made me a creature of habit and consistency... some might say that makes me reliable and others might say it makes me boring.

I say it helped me find myself, and fuck everyone else's opinions.

By the time I got out of the shower and got dressed I was feeling better. Sad, yes, but more numb than anything... and in control. In this moment I need to feel like I am in control of something, and if all that means is I'm in control of myself - well, I will take that.

"May?" I heard Liam's voice from the kitchen just as I was finishing with my hair.

And I felt... something.

"Coming," I said softly - too softly for him to hear.

Moving into the living room my steps faltered, and I realized he'd cleaned up. The food was gone, the dishes were done, and even the weird smell we'd walked into had dissipated.

"Hey," he said gently, drying his hands and walking toward me.

"Hey," I whispered, my eyes focused on the room more than him.

"May," he hooked his finger under my chin and forced my gaze up to meet his.

He studied me for a long time... what's he looking for?

"The contractor will be here tomorrow," he said quietly, still searching my face for whatever it is he thinks he'll find, "I already gave them the measurements, so they're going to bring a couple of options for both the front door and bathroom door."

I nodded numbly, staring at him... because he's the only thing that feels real.

Isn't that ironic? My phantom... my delusion... the strange, warm touches that followed me from Omi's grave so many months ago... he's the only thing in this entire world that feels real.

"What do you need, love?" he asked, cupping my cheek, "what can I do?"

"Stay."

It's the only word that makes it past my lips. It's the only thing I can think of through the numbness. It's the only thing I want.

For him to stay.

"I promise you, with all that I am and all that I have ever been," he says firmly, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me in close, "I promise to stay."

I believe him.

And that makes me... feel something. Warmth. I feel warmth.

I realize, then... where Omi was once my light in the darkness.

Liam has become my warmth.

--

For those 'Top Fans' - if you'd like to learn more about the world of Her Phantom BEYOND what made it into the story, check out my 'Top Fans Content' book here on WP. It includes everything from world-building content that simply didn't fit into the book to Ai-generated character mockups of the cast. There're even a few deleted scenes that were cut for various reasons! You can find it all here: https://www.wattpad.com/1550654751-top-fans-content-her-phantom-%27bonus-content%27