Page 58 of Yearner

Silas released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, but the relief was fleeting. His hands curled into fists at his sides as he looked at Jackson, the fear and frustration he'd been suppressing finally rising to the surface.

“I need you to tell me what's going on with her,” he demanded, his voice thick with agitation. “I can't keep living like this. Every time she comes out of this hospital, she looks sick and exhausted. And now she's so unwell that she can't even wake up or get out of bed.”

He dragged a hand through his hair, struggling to contain his emotions.

“I can't keep worrying about her like this without knowing what's wrong. It's driving me fucking mad, Jackson.”

His voice fell quiet at the end, but the desperation in his eyes remained.

Jackson sighed and glanced toward the room where Allison was still lying on the bed. Even from the doorway, he could see how pale and exhausted she looked. She had always insisted that she was fine and didn't need anyone's help, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore how much weaker she was than she let on.

Seeing her unconscious like this had finally made Jackson realize that he couldn't continue handling everything alone. Allison needed someone who could look after her beyond the hospital visits, someone who could help her when her health took another turn for the worse. And now, standing before him, was a man who clearly cared about her far more than Jackson had initially realized.

He drew a deep breath, steeling himself before turning back to Silas.

“There's something you need to know about Allison,” he began. “I've been keeping an eye on her health for a long time, but she hasn't been entirely honest with you about how bad things can get.”

He went on to explain Allison's health problems and the reasons she had been getting sick, finally telling Silas what she had kept hidden from him.

Silas listened without interrupting. With every detail Jackson revealed, the concern on his face deepened, and his jaw tightened as he struggled to process how much Allison had been going through without telling him.

“You need to make sure she doesn't get too stressed or worried,” Jackson explained once he had finished. “She needs time to recover, and keeping her calm will help. I'm still trying to find a particular medication, but I haven't been able to get my hands on it yet. If I can find it, I believe her health will respond much more positively, and she could improve a lot faster.”

Silas immediately stepped closer, his expression hardening with determination.

“Tell me what medication she needs. I'll find it. Whatever treatment she requires, I'll make sure she gets it. Just tell me what you need, and I'll arrange everything for you. You won't have to keep searching on your own any longer.”

Jackson studied him, taking in the urgency in his voice and the unmistakable worry in his eyes.

“Okay.”

It was clear that Silas wasn't making empty promises. He genuinely wanted to do whatever he could to help Allison.

Silas's expression relaxed slightly. “Thank you for helping her all these years, Jackson.”

Jackson simply offered Silas a small smile, accepting the gratitude without making a fuss over it.

A while later, Allison began to stir.

When she finally opened her eyes, she looked around in confusion, trying to make sense of her unfamiliar surroundings. Her gaze eventually landed on Silas, who was sitting beside her bed, holding her hand.

The moment he noticed she was awake, he leaned forward, his entire attention shifting to her.

“Allison,” he murmured, moving closer. “How are you feeling?”

She blinked at him, still disoriented. “What's going on? Wasn't I at home? Why am I in the hospital?”

Silas gently brushed his thumb over the back of her hand.

“You scared me,” he admitted, his voice thick with the worry he had been holding inside. “You were unconscious this morning and wouldn't wake up, so I brought you to the hospital. But you're all right now. Don't worry. Everything is going to be okay.”

Allison's fingers tightened around his hand.

‘Does he already know about my nightmares about my parents’ death and how they’ve been making me sick?’

The thought sent a fresh wave of anxiety through her. She searched his face, looking for any sign that Jackson had told him the truth. Had he revealed everything she had tried so hard to keep hidden? Did Silas now know how serious her condition could be?

She wanted to ask him directly, but fear held the words back.