"She's awake."
Damien’s voice pulled Celeste from sleep. She jumped up and ran to Mila’s room.
The girl was sitting up. Pale. Weak. But alive. Her eyes were open.
"Mila," Celeste breathed. "You made it."
"Did I?" Mila’s voice was rough. "Feels like I got hit by a truck."
"You almost died. The treatment was risky. But it worked."
"How long was I out?"
"Two days. We weren’t sure you’d wake up."
Mila looked around. At Damien. Elena. Everyone was there. Watching. Waiting.
"You all stayed," she said.
"Of course," Celeste said softly. "You’re family."
Mila’s eyes filled with tears. "I’ve never had a family before. Not a real family."
"You do now."
The doctor checked her, ran tests. His face changed from worry to relief.
"The treatment worked," he said. "Her body accepted the gene t
