Chapter Twenty-Two: The Moon Goddess's Mercy

Emma's POV

The minutes felt like hours as we waited for the ambulance to arrive. I clung to Nicholas's hand, feeling the heat radiate off his fevered skin, desperately praying to the Moon Goddess for mercy. “Please, let him be okay. Please.”

James and Susan hovered nearby, their faces reflecting my anxiety. It was a shared burden, but I felt the weight of it most acutely. I was the nurse. I should have seen this coming. I should have done more.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity but was really only a few minutes, the wail of the ambulance siren pierced the tense silence. Relief washed over me, but it was tinged with the harsh bite of reality. This wasn’t over yet.

Two paramedics rushed into the room, their expressions professional but urgent. I stepped back, giving them space to work, my heart pounding in my chest. “What happened?” one of them asked, laying a hand on Nicholas's head to check his vitals.

"He's been running a high fever," I explained quickly. "We think he might b