chapter 2: what if i fell without making a sound?

Sometimes, the greatest power is to stay

Room 502.

Twilight stretches lazily across the hospital of white ashes' glass walls.

In the hallways, the neon lights barely flicker, footsteps grow fewer, the last patients are asleep, interns exchange charts in quiet murmurs. The world slowly closes, like a book folded shut for the night.

dana noctielle has just finished her rounds.

She’s hung up her coat, slid her hands into the pockets of her work pants. She thought she might go down, maybe grab some tea.

But the red blinking light above room 502 doesn’t lie.

A silent alert. Not a scream, not a medical emergency. Just a sign.

She stops.

Inhales, then pushes the door open.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, an IV disconnected at his feet, a man in his fifties stares out the window.

He’s not crying, not speaking, but his slightly hunched back, his tensed shoulders, say everything.

His gaze isn’t empty. It’s… resigned.

He slowly turns his head as she enters.

And gives her a small, tired, but polite smile.

— "Ah, doctor noctielle, sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you. I was just thinking… I might go take a walk out that window."

He gestures vaguely at the city below.

Eight floors. A fast fall.

dana says nothing at first.

She doesn’t frown. Doesn’t rush to him.

She looks around the room, pulls a chair, sits beside him, crosses her legs, leans on an elbow. Relaxed.

— "Mind if I join? the view’s nice at this hour."

The man looks at her, surprised.

She smiles.

— "And besides… if you jump, at least I’ll have had a front row seat."

A grin slips out of him.

A small, fragile laugh — but real.

— "That’s not very professional, doctor."

— "I’m off the clock."

A silence settles.

Not uncomfortable. Just… human.

Then, gently:

— "It’s the cancer, right? terminal stage, metastases, I did chemo, radiation, prayers, even quit smoking… too late, huh?"

dana nods slowly.

Then adds softly, without pressing:

— "It’s never too late to buy candy… or annoy a nurse at three in the morning."

He looks at her. His eyes mist for a second.

Then, quieter, voice breaking:

— "I’m tired. I’m in pain. and I’m… alone."

dana looks at him.

And for the first time, she doesn’t think about running.

She thinks about holding.

She places a hand on his.

Her palm is cool. Steady.

— "Wanna hear a secret, mr. charnay? I’m alone too."

He frowns.

— "Sorry? a pretty doctor? always well dressed? you must have a family somewhere."

She smiles gently.

— "I have brothers, but they’re… special. a little loud. a little… divine, even."

He frowns a bit more.

She laughs lightly.

— "Just kidding. but you know, even with people all around… you can still feel empty."

She squeezes his hand a bit.

— "But you… you’re not empty. you’re just tired of carrying silence."

She turns to him. Her gaze is steady, firm, but soft.

— "And if you jumped, mr. charnay… you wouldn’t die fast. you’d make a nurse cry. a porter. me."

— "And honestly, I don’t want to clean up blood tonight. my coat is new."

He laughs.

A real laugh.

Raspy, a bit broken, but sincere.

— "You’re completely nuts."

— "Yeah. but I make great coffee. and I’ve got candy in my drawer."

They stay there.

Talking about the weather. His son he hasn’t seen in ten years. His regrets. His favorite dish.

— "My mom’s shepherd’s pie," he says. "she always made too much. I used to complain. but now… I’d dream of it."

dana doesn’t promise anything.

She doesn’t cure his cancer.

She doesn’t talk about hope.

But she gives him one more night. A reason to stay. Just to talk a little more.

He wanted to die. She offered him a little life.

No magic. No divine light. No speed.

Just presence.

And sometimes…

That’s all we can do.

End of chapter 2 – what if i fell without making a sound?