At the hospital, Noah still slept.
A nurse said he had followed two commands while I was gone. He had opened his eyes and moved his right hand.
Progress.
Small enough to frighten me.
I sat beside him.
“Caleb and Owen finished the charging system.”
No reaction.
“I’m hiring someone for the office.”
His eyelids moved faintly.
“You’ll hate that I finally admitted defeat.”
His fingers twitched.
I brought his hand to my cheek.
“Come back when you’re ready.”
Minutes passed.
Then he opened his eyes.
His gaze fixed on the ceiling.
“Noah?”
His head turned slowly.
His gaze found me.
No recognition.
My heart tore open.
Not again.
Every hospital memory returned in one violent wave. The confusion. The blank eyes. The polite fear when I told him I was the man he loved.
I could not survive it twice.
I would.
But I could not.
“Noah.”
His gaze remained distant.
I touched the base of his neck.
The nurse had told me not to overwhelm him with questions.
