Decisions and Discoveries

Chapter 96:

James was all but watching as his world shattered into shards. He was able to do nothing but watch the doctors and their efforts to revive Lily. Alarms were blaring, and he could hardly get air.

"Bloody hell, Lily," he muttered, tears forming in his emerald eyes. "You can't leave us now."

"Oh, God, Lily," he whispered, tears welling in his green eyes. "You can't leave us now."

Moments, which felt like it, had spared their way in sound; the alarms stopped. The double door opened. Then came tired yet relieved eyes, bearing the look of a doctor.

"We have her stable," he said. "Touch and go there for a few minutes, but she's hanging in there."

James exhaled, a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "Thank you," he said in a voice so unsteady it trembled. "Um, can I see her?"

The doctor nodded. "Briefly. But she needs rest."

James returned to Lily's room. Lying there, she still seemed incredibly small and washed out in color. He reached out and took her hand, awkwardly