MELODY
The sterile smell of the hospital room engulfs me as I sit by Nancy's side, counting the seconds as they tick by with each beep of the heart monitor. Her delicate chest rises and falls in a rhythm that both comforts and terrifies me, given how close we were to losing her. The fluorescent lights flicker above us as though mirroring my own internal struggle, wavering between relief at Nancy's survival and the daunting task of facing the future.
"Melody?" Nancy's voice emerges from the haze of sleep, groggy and disoriented. Her eyes flutter open, barely focusing on me. It's difficult to witness her in such a state, but I plaster on a smile that doesn't quite reach my eyes.
"Hey, Nancy," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "You had us all pretty scared there for a while."
"Wh-wha
