Chapter 48

REESE

I stirred, feeling the weight of an eternity pressing down on me. My eyelids fluttered open, and through the haze of disorientation, I recognized the sterile white ceiling of the hospital. The faint beeping of machines and the antiseptic smell, they all indicated that I was somewhere safe. My senses sharpened, and I became acutely aware of a presence nearby.

It was Valeria.

Her familiar scent, which was a blend of wildflowers and something uniquely her, enveloped me completely, drawing me in like a spell. I turned my head slightly and found her sitting by my bedside. As I looked at her, it was evident that her face was filled with worry and exhaustion. She was talking to someone in a low but urgent voice.

"Why didn’t you tell me Reese could wake up any time soon?" she demanded. The edge in her voice was unmistakable.

"I didn’t want to give you false hope," came the doctor's calm reply. "His condition was touch and go for a while."

"I was prepared for the worst," Valeria