Morning light spilled gently into the hospital corridor, pale and quiet, the kind of light that felt careful not to disturb anyone’s pain. Emily stirred on the narrow couch where she had slept sitting up, her neck stiff, her body sore. She opened her eyes slowly and the first thing she noticed was Brian.
He was sitting across from her, elbows resting on his knees, his eyes fixed on her face as if he had been watching for a while.
She blinked, surprised. “Did you not sleep at all?” she asked softly, her voice still thick with exhaustion.
Brian smiled faintly. “I slept,” he said. “Just woke up a few minutes ago.”
She studied his face. He looked tired but calmer than the night before. Less panicked. Less broken.
“The doctor came in earlier,” he continued. “Lawson is stable now. He’s resp
