Elle’s POV
The quiet hum of the machines in my hospital room was a constant reminder that I was still here, still alive. But every breath felt heavy, and the weight of everything that had happened pressed down on me. The accident, Josh, Bianca—it all swirled in my mind, but through the haze of fear and anger, one thing remained constant. Mason.
I turned my head slightly, watching him as he sat beside me, his hand still gripping mine like a lifeline. He hadn’t left my side since I was admitted, not for a moment. Even when the nurses tried to coax him into resting, he refused. His eyes were tired, dark circles forming beneath them, but he remained vigilant, watching over me like he always did.
Something stirred inside me—a warmth, a connection that had been there for longer than I realiz
