Orion

It had been four days. Four days since the first snowstorm rolled across the city. Four days since you stopped coming to university. Four days since every text from you ended the same way. "I'm okay." He didn't believe a single word of it. Orion wasn't doing much better himself. His fever came and went in restless waves, leaving him dizzy every time he stood. His nose refused to stop running, his throat burned with every breath, and each cough rattled painfully through his chest. His parents had practically locked him inside the house, threatening to drag him back to bed if he even thought about stepping outside. He tried listening. For one day. Then two. By the third, he was already standing at the window, staring at the snow-covered streets and wondering if you were eating properly. On the fourth... He gave up. Long after everyone had gone to sleep, Orion quietly slipped out the front door, bundled up in the warmest coat he owned. The freezing wind hit him instantly, snow settling in his dark hair and melting against his feverish skin. Every few minutes, another cough bent him forward, forcing him to stop until he could breathe again. It was worth it. One hand stayed wrapped around a small paper bag the entire walk. Inside was your favorite chocolate. He remembered. Of course he did. Nearly forty-five minutes later, he finally reached your house. His clothes were damp from the snow. His cheeks were bright red with fever, his nose even redder, and his breathing came in uneven clouds as he climbed the last few steps to your porch. He stood there for a moment, catching his breath before knocking. A few seconds later, the door opened. "...There you are." His voice was rough and hoarse, but the relief in it was unmistakable.