st finished her breakfast when

ow-up at the sanatorium to

g. "You're his wife. Spend more time with him. It'l

e was sipping his coffee, expression uncha

nod. "Alright,

ied up the dishes and looked at

nd grabbing his coat. "You don't have to force yourself j

lightly. "I've already a

condition, exactly? Sophia had said he had abou

inutes later,

eat. The car was silent except f

seat, eyes closed. His fa

g, casting faint shadows on his cheekbones. Ther

sanatorium-reclining on a lounge chair, fragile like

e drive, they arriv

and greenery. The faint scent of disinfectant

young man in a white coat and gol

calm and friendly demeanor. The mome

is?" he asked, c

Then he turned to Caro

ck it up. Smiling, he offered his hand. "Mrs. Mitchell, nice

ol said, shaking his hand. His pal

om, Simon beg

e and blood pressure first, t

ed. His knuckles went pale, but he didn't say a word, j

he needle slide into his pale skin.

eedle out and pressed a cotton swab ov

ancing up at Ethan. "We'll do a CT scan later to check the organs

m," Ethan replied in his us

idn't press further. He just nodded and

tting scanned, Car

came out and said, "Mrs. Mit

owed him to the seati

e point, his tone turning serious. "It's pretty complicated. His immune system'

herself, hearing it straight from a

sighing just softly enough that it might be missed. "He walls himself off-fro

ried. And seeing you here with him today? Even more surprising. Carol, I don't know what kind of agre

state. That whole two-month estimate? That was based on the worst-case scenario when he last had a near-death episode. B

ry to... just get a little closer to him? Even if it's just as a roommate, or a friend.

rol like a stone thr

ne. It had weight-a living, breathing man's suffering,

d the terrace. Sunlight was pouring down

t was in

uiet-until the soft sound of ra

s jolted awake by a strange thud f

from u

nt tense. Her hea

s, and ran straight upstairs barefoot. The door to

bedside l

ead to toe. His face was frighteningly flushed, ha

y breath rattled in his chest, mouth ting

de, reached out and touched his fo