wrapped in a quiet tha

k contrast to the sterile scent of antiseptic lingering in the air. The steady rhythm of the cardiac monitor echoed gen

adn't

uldn't remember crying. The blood pressure cuff hugged her upper arm, while the oxygen monitor on her finger bli

hanging loose around his neck. Deep lines of exhaustion carved shadows beneath his eyes and along his jaw. He hadn't left

k pierced th

and practiced, carrying a medication tray.

ning, Mr.

fatigue. "Morning," he murmured, the single word he

a fresh one, and adjusted the flow rate. Her fingers moved with calm precision as she took Genevieve's pulse, then rewrap

" she said softly, re

hope. "Is everything all right?" The question came out s

"The medication is finally doing its job." She jotted notes on the chart, then glanced

never leaving Genevieve's stil

s from patient to patient," she said softly. "But it shouldn'

Dr. Dawkins entered, his expression

d mor

eted him with polite res

ing Genevieve's pulse, listening to her breathing, studying the monitor readi

tepping outside wi

for a second. He cast one last protective glance at Genevieve before fo

er his arm, his voice steady. "Mr

ief crashing over him like a wave. "Thank God," he

ressure has begun responding well to the medication," the doctor con

hed, asking. "And.

because I don't know the full story behind this episode." He paused, choosing his words with care. "But what I can tell you is that the human body d

w twisting in his chest like a knife. "I

can be just as damaging as any physical illness, som

thing now is giving her body a

does sh

rs. No heated conversations. No emotionally upsetting situations." He met Alain's gaze directly. "If she w

h resolve. "I'll make sure of it," he said, the promi

ile. "She's young, and physically she's strong. I expect a full re

k toward the clos

let that

*

utive outpatient wing bustled w

entrance looking every bit like a man run

dn't s

s eyes. Since Genevieve's disappearance, sleep had become a stranger, food an afterth

isted he come in after learning

ded to keep th

hing

a just as two nurses crossed the

lanced down at

ther blood pressure check

s she adjusted the stack o

Dawkins wants to review her chart before decid

is heart lurched violently

. Va

rclap. He turned slowly toward the nurses,

e emerged hoarse. "Did y

ed across one nurse'

pulse roaring in his ears. "My wife?" The words c

us glance, their hesitation on

rembling with barely containe

efully, her tone gentle

s knees nearly buckled. "What happen

r medical condition, sir," the nurse

he world had narrowed to a singl

briefest hesitatio

nd was already moving, his footsteps echoing sharply down the c

ince the night she'd

t time, he had a c

urn him away, or look at him with the same heartbreak t

f it ma

needed to