[BL] Dear Hushand, I want divorce-Chapter 100: Don’t leave again

Ash sat slumped in the chair, his face buried in his hands, his shoulders shaking as quiet sobs wracked his body. He couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

Every time he thought about Elijah’s bloodied face, the tears only came harder. He hadn’t seen Elijah in three years, and now Elijah had reappeared—only to nearly sacrifice himself to save him. The thought made Ash’s heart twist painfully in his chest.

Kian stood beside him, shifting awkwardly as he watched his usually cheerful friend unravel. He scratched the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable in the tense atmosphere but unable to leave Ash alone in such a state.

Finally, he asked softly, "Ash...who is that guy? You seem to know him."

Ash tried to speak, to explain the complicated mess that was his relationship with Elijah, but all that came out was a strangled noise.

"H-He...h—" He choked on his words, his throat constricting painfully, the weight of it all too much to bear at this moment. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he shook his head, unable to even form a coherent sentence.

Seeing how distressed Ash was, Kian sighed and sat down next to him, his large hand awkwardly patting Ash’s shoulder.

"It’s fine. You don’t have to explain now," he said quietly. "Just take your time."

Ash nodded, his breath coming out in short, shallow gasps as he tried to calm himself down. But his mind raced with thoughts—Why the hell would Elijah come back now? Why would he try to save me after everything I’ve done? Ash clenched his fists, anger bubbling up inside him.

This wasn’t fair. Elijah had every right to hate him, to never want to see him again. Ash didn’t deserve to be saved by him. Every time he was in Elijah’s life, he only brought pain and destruction. Maybe he really was cursed—destined to hurt the one person who had once meant everything to him.

Moments later, the doctor finally emerged from the ward. Ash bolted upright, wiping furiously at his tear-stained cheeks as he stepped forward, his heart pounding.

"How is he?" he asked, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and desperation.

The doctor gave him a reassuring nod. "He’s fine, but the injuries on his back shouldn’t be taken lightly," he explained. "We’ve sedated him for now, but once he wakes up, you’ll be able to see him."

Ash’s knees nearly buckled with relief, but even that was short-lived. His immediate reaction was to leave, to get as far away from Elijah as possible. Elijah was safe, and that’s what mattered, right? There was no reason for Ash to stay. No reason to drag this out any longer.

"I...I should go," Ash muttered, turning on his heel, his heart aching with guilt. But just as he took a step, Kian’s voice stopped him.

"Wait," Kian said, his voice calm but firm. "If that guy knows you, won’t he be hurt if you just disappear? He saved you. You should at least say thank you, no?"

Ash hesitated, his heart heavy with guilt. Kian was right, and deep down, Ash knew it. Elijah risked his life to protect him, and the least Ash could do was face him...one last time. No matter how painful it would be.

Ash nodded slowly, his throat tightening with the thought of facing Elijah again. "You’re right," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I owe him that much."

Kian stood, placing a comforting hand on Ash’s shoulder. "I’ll head back and grab you some clothes. Explain everything to Grandpa, too," he said softly. "You take care of things here."

Ash offered a weak nod of thanks, his mind still reeling from everything that had happened. As Kian walked away, Ash found himself staring at the hospital door, his heart pounding with anxiety and dread. He wasn’t ready for this, but he had no choice. It was time to face the one person he had spent three years running from.

He sat outside the ward for what felt like an eternity, torn between the desire to see Elijah and the fear of facing the reality of their past. His heart twisted every time he thought about it. After an hour of silently battling his own thoughts, the longing finally won over the fear.

Slowly, hesitantly, he pushed the door open and stepped inside, his movements careful as if any sudden noise would shatter the fragile peace in the room. The steady beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound that greeted him.

And there he was. Elijah.

His breath caught in his throat as he saw Elijah lying in the bed, his face peaceful despite the bandages wrapped around his back and arms. For a moment, Ash just stood there, staring at him, his heart swelling with emotions he had spent years trying to bury. He hadn’t seen Elijah in so long...too long. And now that he was here, it was almost too much to take in.

Every detail of Elijah’s face—the curve of his lips, the sharpness of his jaw, the way his lashes brushed against his cheeks—everything hit Ash like a tidal wave. He had missed this face so much that it hurt deeply. It felt like his chest was being squeezed, the air slowly being pulled from his lungs.

Ash swallowed hard, his throat tightening as he stepped closer to the bed. His hand trembled as he reached out, his fingers hovering just above Elijah’s hand. He hesitated for a moment, the fear of touching him—of feeling something he knew he couldn’t have—making him pause. But the need for that connection, even just a fleeting one, was too overwhelming.

Finally, his fingers made contact with Elijah’s skin, warm and familiar, and it sent a shiver down his spine. He let out a shaky breath, his heart hammering in his chest as he gently held Elijah’s hand, the feeling of it grounding him and breaking him all at once. The feeling was peaceful yet it still couldn’t calm down his heart.

Why would you do this? Why would you risk your own life to save me? Why would you care enough to protect me?

He didn’t deserve this. He doesn’t deserve Elijah’s kindness. But as much as he told himself that, he couldn’t stop the deep yearning that stirred within him. He had missed Elijah so much that it physically hurt, and now, sitting here beside him, all those buried feelings rushed to the surface like a flood.

Just when he thought he couldn’t take it anymore, he gently tried to pull his hand away, ready to leave before his heart completely unravelled. But just as he moved, he felt resistance. Elijah’s hand tightened around his own, holding him in place.

Ash’s eyes widened in shock. His breath hitched as he looked down at Elijah, who still hadn’t opened his eyes. For a brief moment, Ash wondered if he was imagining things, if his mind was playing tricks on him. But then, Elijah’s voice—deep and hoarse cut through the silence.

"Leaving again?" Elijah murmured, his voice hoarse but laced with a soft amusement that broke Ash’s heart all over again.

Ash’s chest tightened as more tears streamed down his face. He couldn’t hold them back any longer, not when the sound of Elijah’s voice cut through every wall he had spent years building.

"Elijah..." Ash choked out, his voice trembling as the tears continued to fall. He had no words—nothing that could possibly explain what he was feeling, the guilt, the relief, the pain. Everything was too much, too overwhelming.

Elijah’s grip on his hand tightened just a bit more as he opened his eyes.