I’ve watched it change every minute for the last hour.
The ICU room stays dim except for the pale glow from the monitors beside Olivia’s bed. Green lines crawl steadily across the screen.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
I sit beside her with one hand wrapped around hers, staring at every tiny movement like it matters.
Because it does.
Her fingers twitch suddenly against mine.
My breath catches.
I lean forward instantly.
“Olivia?”
Nothing.
The movement disappears as quickly as it came.
Hope crashes hard against my ribs anyway.
“Come on, sweetheart,” I murmur. “Just give me something.”
The door opens softly behind me.
I already know who it is before he speaks.
“Russ.”
Clay.
I don’t look away from Olivia. “What.”
Bootsteps cross the room slowly.
“We’re heading back in.”
There it is.
The words settle heavy in the air between us.
“For the rest of the kids,” he adds quietly.
I nod once.
Of course they are.
There was never going to be another option.
“You coming?”
That finally pulls my eyes away from Olivia.
