From Best Friend To Fiancé (Savannah and Roman) novel Chapter 212

**Chapter 212: You Need To Rest**

Mom had drifted off to sleep about thirty minutes prior, her breathing a gentle rhythm, shallow yet steady, while her hand rested limply in mine. I should have felt a wave of relief wash over me, knowing she was finally finding some peace, but instead, a strange ache settled in my chest. It was the kind of ache that constricts your heart and makes each breath feel like a laborious task. I remained still, my gaze fixed on the rise and fall of her chest, as if willing the moment to last forever.

Suddenly, the door creaked open behind me, a sound that was both familiar and jarring. I didn’t turn right away; I assumed it was just a nurse making her rounds or perhaps Dean checking up on us. But then, a voice sliced through the silence, a voice I hadn’t heard in what felt like ages, and my entire body froze.

“Sav?”

The sound of my name made my heart skip a beat. Slowly, I turned to face the source of the voice.

Alyssa stood framed in the doorway, illuminated by the harsh fluorescent lights of the hallway. For a fleeting moment, I was at a loss for words, the breath knocked out of me like a punch to the gut.

“Alyssa?” I managed to utter, almost in disbelief, as if saying her name could somehow confirm her presence.

“Sav?” Her expression morphed into one of disbelief, a softening of her features that made my heart ache even more. “Is this really you?”

I felt my palms grow clammy as I rubbed them against my jeans, trying to find some semblance of grounding in the whirlwind of emotions. “Uh, yeah… it’s me. In the flesh,” I replied, forcing a weak laugh that fell flat in the heavy air.

She blinked rapidly, her eyes darting between joy and sorrow, trying to decide whether to smile or cry. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

Her voice was layered with so much emotion—surprise, relief, and something sharper lurking beneath. She stepped into the room, letting the door close with a soft thud behind her, and placed a heavy tote bag on the table beside Mom’s bed. “I thought you hated all of us now. Including me and Emily.”

The words struck me like a slap, leaving me momentarily breathless.

“Jesus Christ, no,” I exclaimed, rising so abruptly that the chair squealed against the floor. “I could never hate you or Em. Why would I ever hate little Emily? Come on, sis.”

Alyssa didn’t respond immediately. Her eyes were cautious, as if she were weighing my words, unsure whether to trust me or shield herself from further hurt. After a moment, she nodded slightly and turned her attention to her bag, pulling out items—wipes, a water bottle, and one of Mom’s beloved knitted beanies. Her movements were mechanical, as if she needed to keep her hands busy to stave off the tension in the air.

“How’s Roman?” she asked, her gaze still fixed on her task.

The question caught me off guard, but I couldn’t help but smile faintly. “He’s good. Really good. I’ll be sure to let him know you asked about him.”

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