The hospital was colder than usual that night. Romeo had just finished a difficult surgery and was headed out when a nurse stopped him.
"Emergency case coming in," she said. "They requested you specifically."
Romeo rubbed his tired eyes. "Name?"
The nurse glanced at the file.
"Juliet."
He froze.
It couldn't be.
It shouldn't be.
But something inside him already knew—it was.
When he entered the emergency room, time slowed.
There she was.
Lying on the hospital bed, pale, weak, wires attached to her, her breathing shallow. Her lips were cracked, and her body looked smaller than he remembered. But even now, unconscious and broken, she looked… fierce.
His chest tightened.
He walked closer, and the second his hand touched hers, her eyes fluttered open.
"Romeo…" she whispered. Barely.
His name on her lips hit harder than any pain he'd felt before.
"I'm here," he said, gently, sitting beside her. His voice cracked, "You're going to be okay."
Juliet smiled weakly. "No, I'm not."
He gripped her hand tighter. "Don't say that. I'm going to save you."
She looked at him with those same wild eyes from years ago.
Only softer now. Tired.
"I waited," she whispered. "I waited for you my whole life."
Tears filled his eyes.
"I know," he whispered back. "And I was a fool. I didn't see it then. I see it now."
Juliet gave a faint laugh. "Typical Romeo… always late."
He laughed, even through the ache in his chest. "Don't go. Please."
She blinked slowly. Her breathing was slower now. "Just stay… till the end."
And he did.
He stayed for the last seven minutes of her life.
Held her hand. Told her all the things he should've said years ago. Apologized for walking away. For marrying someone else. For never choosing her.
And Juliet?
She didn't say much.
She just smiled through the tears, whispered "I still love you,"
…then closed her eyes.