The hospital room felt cold despite the warmth of the fluorescent lights overhead. The sterile smell of disinfectant lingered faintly in the air, and the faint beeping of monitors kept time like a heartbeat that wasn’t theirs. Aniela leaned slightly against the wall outside the door, hands pressed together as she tried to steady her breathing.
Bea’s voice cut through the tense quiet. “Who is this Aniela?” she demanded sharply, stepping into the hallway with a concerned, almost accusatory glare.
Aniela stiffened slightly at the mention of her name, though she stayed hidden, fingers gripping her bag strap tightly. Why is she even asking? She doesn’t understand… she doesn’t know what happened…
Orifiel stepped slightly in front of Aniela, a protective barrier between her and Bea. “Who is An
