[Hazel]
I was drifting in and out of awareness by the time we reached the hospital.
Everything smeared together—white-hot lights flickering overhead like distant lightning, the sharp sting of disinfectant biting the back of my throat, and the dull, rhythmic slam of Elijah’s boots striking the pavement. Each step reverberated through me like a war drum, steady and unrelenting.
I could feel the rise and fall of his chest beneath my cheek, the deep, thunderous beat of his heart echoing like a promise. My limbs were useless, heavy as stone, but his arms cradled me with unwavering strength, holding me as if the very act of letting go might shatter something irreparable.
The world pitched and reeled in disorienting shades, but his presence never wavered. His hold was the one anchor in a stor
