Quiet
Alessia stirred before the sun had fully risen, her mind groggy but aware of the warmth beside her. She blinked sleepily, adjusting to the dim light filtering through the curtains, and turned her head slightly.
Leah was still asleep, curled up on her side as much as her injured ribs would allow, her leg no longer properly elevated. She looked peaceful, her breathing soft and even, lips slightly parted. Alessia let her eyes drift, taking her in properly for the first time since the accident.
The stitches on her forehead. The light bruising around her eye, fading now but still prominent. Her cheeks, flushed with sleep. The delicate curve of her nose. The way her lashes fluttered faintly against her skin, like she was caught in a dream.
Alessia’s gaze flickered down to her lips before she could stop herself, and just like that, her mind jumped back to the hospital. To the way she’d kissed those lips just two days ago.
She hadn’t let herself think about it much. Hadn’t given herself the chance to sit with it, to process. She’d been too busy, too focused on looking after Leah, on making sure she was okay. But now, with Leah asleep -safe, unaware- nothing stopped her mind from going there.
She expected to feel regret. Fear. Maybe even shame. But there was none of that. Instead, there was only an ache. A quiet, insistent urge to kiss her again. To really feel it this time, without the panic, without the fear. She knew Leah wouldn’t mind. Would probably encourage it. But what would that kiss lead to? Leah wanting more? More than Alessia could give her?
The thought made her stomach tighten.
She sighed, pushing herself up and out of bed, leaving Leah to sleep as she padded into the kitchen. She busied herself with breakfast, brewing tea, preparing Leah’s medicine. She was sure Leah would be in pain when she woke, especially with how she’d been lying, curled up on her side, pressure on her ribs.
When she made her way back into Leah’s bedroom, tea and pills in hand, Leah was beginning to stir, face scrunching up in discomfort as she shifted onto her back. Alessia frowned, quickening her steps as she sat down on the edge of the bed, reaching out to brush Leah’s messy hair out of her face. Leah’s eyes fluttered open, hazy with sleep, and she offered a small, tired smile before groaning, hand coming to rest against her ribs.
“Morning,” Alessia murmured, voice soft.
Leah huffed a breath. “Mornin’,” she rasped before wincing.
Alessia’s brows knitted together as she carefully helped her sit up, adjusting the pillows behind her so she was more supported. “You in a lot of pain?”
Leah exhaled sharply. “Mm. Yeah. Feels like I’ve been hit by a lorry.”
“Yeah, well,” Alessia mused, handing her the painkillers. “You basically were.”
Leah shot her a weak glare but took the pills without argument, wincing slightly as she swallowed them down with some tea. Alessia rested her hand on Leah’s thigh again, squeezing softly, eyes lingering on her face as she watched Leah close her eyes, brow still furrowed in discomfort. She trailed her thumb absently over the side of Leah’s thigh, not sure what to say.
Eventually, Leah’s eyes fluttered open again, hazy but more present, and she exhaled softly before resting her hand over Alessia’s.
Alessia swallowed. “You ready for breakfast?” she asked quietly.
Leah hummed in confirmation but then hesitated. “Need the loo first.”
Alessia nodded, not particularly fazed by the request. She’d already helped Leah to the bathroom a handful of times, and by now, the awkwardness of it had dulled. She shifted, moving to carefully gather Leah in her arms again, making sure not to jostle her ribs as she carried her through to the bathroom.
Leah was quiet as Alessia set her down, steadying her against the sink before moving to help her with her shorts. She didn’t say anything, knowing Leah must already be feeling embarrassed enough. Instead, she just crouched slightly, hands gentle as she eased the waistband down. Leah exhaled softly, barely audibly, but Alessia caught it, glancing up to see her looking anywhere but at her.
“Alright?” Alessia asked, slipping her hands beneath Leah’s arms and slowly lowering her down onto the toilet.
Leah swallowed but nodded. “Yeah.”
Alessia nodded too, stepping back to give her some space. “Call me when you’re done.”
Leah didn’t argue, which was probably the biggest sign of how much pain she was in. When Leah was finished, Alessia moved just as carefully to pull her shorts back up, making sure everything was comfortable before gathering her into her arms again. She carried her back through to the living room, setting her down gently on the couch before heading back to grab breakfast.
As she moved through the kitchen, plating up Leah’s food, she tried not to think too much about the way Leah’s skin had felt beneath her fingers.
Or the way her mind still lingered on the thought of kissing her again.
*
The day dragged. Leah wasn’t used to sitting still for this long. Normally, she was always on the go -training, gym, doing something. But now, she was stuck. And it was driving her mad. Alessia could see it in the way she fidgeted, shifting restlessly despite the pain it caused her ribs. The way she huffed every now and then, like just breathing in frustration. She was irritated, restless, fed up.
And there wasn’t much Alessia could do to help. She tried, though.
She suggested a movie, which Leah had agreed to with a shrug, clearly not fussed either way. Alessia picked something light -something Leah had seen before and would normally spend half the time talking through.
That’s what was unsettling, really.
Leah didn’t talk through it.
Not once.
Alessia had fully expected her to, had even braced for it, but the usual running commentary never came. At first, she tried to fill the silence herself, making the occasional remark, trying to get some kind of response out of Leah. But all she got were hums, nods, the occasional tired blink in her direction. She gave up after that, not wanting to annoy her.
Leah’s legs were draped over her lap like always, the weight of them familiar, but even that didn’t bring the usual warmth to Alessia’s chest. Not when Leah was this quiet.
She didn’t realise how much she’d got used to Leah’s constant yapping until now. The film ended, and Leah barely reacted. Alessia turned to her, brows furrowed, about to ask if she wanted to watch something else, but she stopped when she saw Leah’s eyes drooping.
She sighed softly, adjusting the blanket over Leah’s legs. The medicine was making her drowsy again. Leah fought it for a little while, blinking sluggishly at the TV, but eventually, she lost the battle. Her breathing evened out, body relaxing into the couch as she drifted off.
Alessia carefully shifted out from under Leah’s legs, making sure not to jostle her as she stood. She took the opportunity to get things done, cleaning up, wiping down the kitchen, putting some laundry in and even made a start on dinner.
By the time the evening rolled around, she was relieved the day was almost over, and hoped desperately that tomorrow would be better.