The quiet rhythm of the medical suite was a fragile illusion of peace. I sat beside Valerius, my thumb absentmindedly stroking the rough knuckles of his cold hand. The towering machines keeping him tethered to the living world hummed softly, a mechanical heartbeat filling the silence. I watched his chest rise and fall beneath the thick layers of pristine white bandages, silently praying to a God I hadn't spoken to in years.
The soft hiss of the electronic glass doors breaking the silence made my spine instantly snap straight. I didn't let go of Valerius’s hand, but my body tensed, preparing for another blow.
Dominic stumbled into the sterile suite. The Chief Financial Officer looked completely shattered. His expensive grey suit jacket was gone, his tie was undone, and heavy bags hung ben
