The pain.
The chaos.
All of it.
And it’s just this.
Him.
Here.
Alive.
And for reasons I’m not ready to examine—
That matters more than it should.
A lot more.
56
Russ
Ipause just outside the trauma room.
Not because I need to.
Because I want to see.
Through the glass—
Hannah is still there.
Hasn’t moved.
Hasn’t stepped back.
Hasn’t evenpretendedto leave.
She’s standing at Clay’s side like she belongs there.
Like she’s the only thing holding him in place.
My gaze shifts to Clay.
Color’s better.
Breathing steady.
Still out—but not gone.
Good.
I push the door open quietly and step inside.
No one stops me.
No one even looks up.
