"The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned." - Maya Angelou

Saint

The hotel hallway was silent as I walked back to my room, the echo of my footsteps the only sound that broke the stillness. I glanced at Veronica's door, a wave of protectiveness washing over me. I wanted to stay, to stand guard outside her room all night, but I knew that wouldn't be wise. Besides, I had work to do.

Inside my room, I closed the door and leaned against it, the weight of the night pressing down on me. The masked figure, the missing security footage, the threats against Veronica... it was all too much. And then there was the kiss. I couldn't believe I'd done that. It was unprofessional, reckless, and yet... I couldn't regret it. The feel of her lips on mine, the vulnerability in her eyes... it had been a moment of pure instinct, a need to offer her comfort, to reassure her that she wasn't alone.

I walked over to the desk and opened my laptop, the glow of the screen illuminating the room. I pulled up the security footage again, determined to find something, anything, that could lead me to the masked figure. But the more I looked, the more frustrated I became. The footage was grainy, the figure's face obscured, and the missing minutes only added to the mystery.

Suddenly, a sharp pain lanced through my head, a familiar throb that quickly intensified. Damn it. Not now. I closed my eyes, willing the pain to subside, but it only grew stronger, a vise tightening around my skull. I knew what this was. A migraine. It was a rare occurrence, usually triggered by stress and overwork, and this time, it was hitting me with full force.

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I stumbled towards the bed, collapsing onto the mattress with a groan. The room spun around me, the pain in my head blinding. I needed medication, but my bag was on the other side of the room, and the thought of moving, of even opening my eyes, was unbearable.

Just as I was about to succumb to the darkness, I heard a knock on the door. "Saint? Are you in there?" Veronica's voice, soft and concerned, filtered through the haze of pain.

I tried to answer, but all that came out was a groan.

"Saint? I'm coming in," she said, her voice closer now.

The door opened, and I felt a cool hand on my forehead. "Oh my god, you're burning up," she said, her voice filled with alarm. "What's wrong?"

I forced my eyes open, the light making me wince. "Migraine," I managed to say, my voice raspy.

"I'll get you some medicine," she said, her voice soothing.

I felt her move around the room, her presence a calming influence amidst the chaos in my head. She returned a moment later with a glass of water and two pills. "Here, take these," she said, gently helping me sit up.

I swallowed the pills gratefully, the cool water soothing my parched throat. "Thank you," I whispered, leaning back against the pillows.

"Don't thank me," she said, her hand still on my forehead. "Just rest."

I closed my eyes, the pain slowly receding. I felt her presence beside me, a comforting weight on the edge of the bed. Then, her fingers gently brushed through my hair, a light, soothing touch that sent a shiver down my spine. She began to hum softly, a quiet melody that seemed to weave its way into my aching head, easing the tension. I'd never been one to rely on others, to show weakness, but in this moment, with Veronica caring for me, gently running her hands through my hair as she hummed a soothing tune, I felt a strange sense of vulnerability. It was a new feeling, unsettling yet... not entirely unpleasant. It was a little scary, this feeling of letting someone in, of allowing them to see me when I was weak. But it was also… comforting. It was a feeling akin to coming home, a safe place where I didn't have to be strong, where I could simply be.

I drifted off to sleep, the pain in my head fading into a dull throb. I felt safe, protected, cared for. It was a feeling I hadn't experienced in a long time, a feeling I wasn't sure I deserved. But in this moment, with Veronica by my side, I allowed myself to simply... be.