The lead surgeon pulled off his mask, his expression grave.
"We managed to save his life, but only barely. The stab wound went extremely deep, damaging major blood vessels and vital structures in his chest. His body took a tremendous hit. He'd already been under chronic stress, with poor eating and sleeping habits and years of overwork that had taken a toll on his health. This critical injury has drained what little strength he had left. His condition is far from good. He'll need strict, long-term rest to recover."
As those words sank in, Elara felt a sharp, bitter ache twist through her chest, though she couldn't put it into words.
Not long afterward, Cassian was wheeled out of the operating room by the medical staff, IV lines running from his body and monitors tracking his vital signs
