Aniela stood just outside the hospital room door, her fingers curled tightly around the edge of her bag. The fluorescent light from the hallway glinted off the linoleum floor, casting long, sterile shadows across the walls. Her heart ached with a strange mixture of relief and lingering tension. Yes… he is worth all of it, she whispered to herself, almost inaudibly, her breath catching in her throat.
Erelah, standing beside her, leaned slightly toward her and gave a gentle nudge. “Okay, okay… don’t cry,” she said softly, though her tone carried a hint of teasing.
Aniela swallowed hard, brushing at the corners of her eyes. I’m not crying… it’s just… the stress, the fear… the relief. It’s a lot to handle at once. Her gaze stayed fixed on the door, as if she could will him to wake, to see he
