a

breath, a flatline echoing in the sterile room, was a sound that would haunt me for eternity. I scrambled on my han

e, unadulterated anguish. I reached for his hand, his skin

g him wherever I could reach. "You killed him! You murdered my father!" My blows were weak, fueled by grief more than s

back, forcing me to my knees. "Enough, Ava! You're making a scene." His voice was a low gr

ut it was futile. He held me captive, just

g his words hang heavy in the air. "Sign the waiver for Kimberli, and I'll allow you to see your father's body one last time. You can arrange a f

my anchor. My only remaining family. I hated him, hated Kimberli, hated myself for ever loving su

d tasting like ash in my mout

here the clipboard lay. My hands still trembled, but a cold resolve had settled in m

ure across the bottom of the document, a meaningless scrap of paper in the face of such monumental loss. It was

sical entity. "Now," I said, my voice dangerously soft, "I want to see my father.

rli to appear. A frown creased his brow. It was a moment of weakness, a tiny c

in Chris's. Her eyes, still wide and innocent, darted to me, then to the signed waiver on the clipbo

fusion vanished, replaced by his familiar mask of cold control. "I'm fine, my love.

beside him, cradling his head in my arms. His skin was already growing colder. The machin

ied, my voice hoarse. He wasn't truly gone,

owed by two security guards. "Mrs.

ds help!" I scream

in, looking distraught. "What's going on? Why are the

s you. She had an unfortunate incident. Your patient here has been... terminate

widened in horror. "What are you

, a faint red mark visible. "Ava... she attacked me, docto

perate lunge for Kimberli, but the security guard

room. He looked at Dr. Henderson. "You heard her. Kimberli need

Dr. Henderson proteste

s finished, his voice final. "

em, desperate to get back to my father. "No! Don't tou

r, Ava," Chris said, his voice devoid of

registered it. All I could see was my father, alone in that cold room, his life cruelly extinguished by the man I had once loved. I would not let