The room was unusually quiet that morning. Outside the hospital window, sunlight broke through the pale curtains, painting the sterile white walls with a gentle golden glow. Alliah sat propped up in bed, her eyes tired but still bright. Jamiro was beside her, his hand resting over hers, while Joshua leaned against the windowsill, his arms folded tightly across his chest. Apple sat further back in the room, her expression unreadable, but the faint trace of tension around her lips betrayed what she was feeling.
The silence didn’t last long.
Dr. Reyes cleared his throat as he adjusted the folder in his hand. “Mrs. Alliah, Mr. Jamiro,” he began carefully, glancing at the faces in the room, “the last round of therapy has shown some stabilization. But we’re reaching a plateau. The current trea
