I stayed at the hospital longer than I meant to.
Not because anything changed.
Not because there was suddenly good news.
But because leaving felt wrong.
Like the moment I walked out of that room, everything would slip again.
Mum fell asleep not long after I arrived. Her hand stayed loosely wrapped around mine, her breathing shallow but steady, and I just sat there watching her.
Counting each rise and fall like it mattered.
Like it was something I could hold onto.
Because everything else felt like it was moving too fast.
Too uncertain.
Too out of my control.
A soft knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts.
I looked up, expecting a nurse.
Instead—
Max.
My chest tightened instantly.
“What are you doing here?” I asked quietly.
He stepped inside, closing the door behind h
