ALICE POV
As I opened the door to Paolo’s hospital room, a knot tightened in my stomach. Alex was right behind me, his presence a steadying force, but I couldn’t shake the dread that had settled in my chest. I’d seen my brother through so many phases—joyful, angry, stubborn—but never like this. Never so...broken.
Stepping inside, my gaze immediately fell on Paolo. His eyes, the same deep green as mine, were dull, lacking their usual sparkle. The athletic build he’d worked so hard to maintain seemed diminished, his once vibrant, sunlit aura now shadowed and dim. He looked fragile, like a crystal about to shatter, and it felt like someone was squeezing my heart in a vise.
"Thank God you're okay," Paolo murmured, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
The sound of his voice, small an
