The heart monitor beeped steadily in the ICU room, mixed with the soft sound of the ventilator. Malcolm Sebastian lay in bed, hooked up to many tubes and machines that were keeping him alive. Seeing his father like this was really hard for Louis. The strong man he knew seemed weak and was fighting for his life.
Louis stood at the end of the bed, watching Malcolm’s face. Every breath Malcolm took looked difficult, reminding Louis how close he was to death. The room was quiet except for the beeping of the machines, which showed that things were uncertain.
Victoria entered quietly, looking at Malcolm with sadness and determination. She took Louis's hand and squeezed it. "How’s he doing?" she asked softly, as if speaking too loudly might break the stillness.
“They said he’s critical but sta
