The night stretched on, quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor and the occasional sound of Caleb shifting beside Elyra.

He hadn’t slept.

How could he?

Elyra’s hand was still clasped in his, small and fragile, her breathing so soft that every pause between breaths made his stomach twist with fear.

She had fallen asleep hours ago, after whispering stories of what their lives could have been like. But even as she rested, Caleb remained awake, staring at the ceiling, terrified of what tomorrow would bring.

He knew her time was slipping away.

He just didn’t know how much longer he had with her.

The thought alone made his throat tighten.

Caleb exhaled shakily and glanced at his sister’s face.

She looked peaceful.

Too peaceful.

A small frown creased his forehead. Her chest rose and fell so slowly that for a second, panic gripped him.

"Elyra?" He whispered, shaking her hand gently.

She didn’t respond.

His heart pounded.

"Elyra," he tried again, sitting up. "Wake up."

Still nothing.

A cold sweat broke out across his skin.

Then suddenly—

The machines started beeping erratically.

Caleb’s entire body froze.

The heart monitor’s steady rhythm turned into a sharp, warning alarm. The oxygen saturation numbers plummeted.

"Elyra?" His voice cracked.

Then her body twitched violently.

Caleb’s stomach dropped as Elyra suddenly gasped, her eyes flying open in shock. Her entire body jerked against the bed, her chest rising as she tried to breathe, but it was clear something was horribly wrong.

"Elyra!" Caleb’s voice was frantic now.

She clutched at her chest, her lips parting as if she wanted to speak, but nothing came out except a weak, strangled breath.

She was suffocating.

Caleb shot to his feet and slammed his hand against the emergency call button.

"Somebody help!"

His voice was raw, desperate.

The door burst open within seconds.

Doctors and nurses flooded into the room, pushing Caleb aside as they assessed Elyra.

"She’s in cardiac distress!" One of the doctors shouted.

"Her oxygen is dropping fast—she’s not stabilizing!"

Caleb stood frozen against the wall, his body shaking as he watched the chaos unfold.

A nurse quickly put an oxygen mask over Elyra’s face, but she was still gasping, her hands weakly clutching at the sheets.

"Stay with us, Elyra," one of the doctors urged.

Caleb clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he watched helplessly.

This couldn’t be happening.

Not yet.

Not now.

"She’s going into shock!"

"Get the crash cart!"

Caleb’s breath caught in his throat.

Crash cart.

His knees nearly buckled.

No.

No, no, no.

"Elyra!" He tried to push forward, but a nurse held him back. "Elyra, stay with me!"

She was convulsing now, her fragile body trembling violently.

And then—

She went still.

The beeping of the monitor became a single, eerie sound.

A flatline.

The world around Caleb shattered.

A nurse immediately started chest compressions, while a doctor prepared the defibrillator.

"Charging—stand back!"

Caleb’s entire body shook as he watched them press the paddles against Elyra’s chest.

"Clear!"

A jolt went through her body.

The monitor remained flat.

Caleb’s breath hitched.

"Again!"

Another jolt.

Another agonizing second of silence.

Then—

A beep.

Then another.

The monitor came back to life.

Caleb nearly collapsed in relief.

Elyra’s chest rose weakly. Her breathing was shallow, but she was alive.

"She’s stable—for now," a doctor said. "But she’s dangerously weak. We need to monitor her closely."

The nurses moved quickly, adjusting her IVs and oxygen. Caleb, still frozen in place, felt his entire body tremble with lingering fear.

She had almost died.

Right in front of him.

He swallowed hard and took slow, shaky steps toward the bed.

Elyra’s eyelids fluttered, barely open. Her gaze met his—dazed, tired.

"Caleb," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He immediately grasped her hand. "I’m here. I’m right here."

She tried to smile, but it barely reached her eyes.

"I… I thought…" She struggled for breath.

Caleb shook his head, forcing a smile even as tears welled in his eyes. "Don’t talk. Just rest, okay? You scared the hell out of me."

Her fingers twitched in his grasp.

"I… love you," she whispered.

Caleb choked on a sob.

"I love you too, Elyra," he whispered back. "So much."

Her lashes fluttered closed again, her body too weak to fight anymore.

Caleb stayed beside her, gripping her hand tightly, unwilling to let go.

This time, he wouldn’t let her slip away.

Not now.

Not yet. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Be Continued...