The glimmer of hope was short-lived.

For the first time in weeks, Caleb had allowed himself to believe that maybe—just maybe—Elyra would survive. That somehow, fate would be merciful, giving them more time to make up for the years they lost.

But fate had always been cruel.

It happened in an instant.

One moment, Caleb was stepping out of the hospital to grab some fresh air. The next, tires screeched, a deafening crash echoed through the street, and pain exploded through his chest.

Everything went black.

When Caleb opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the hospital ceiling. The sterile white lights above him blurred, his vision swimming in and out of focus.

A dull, throbbing pain settled deep in his chest, each breath feeling heavier than the last.

"Caleb!"

His mother’s voice cracked as she appeared beside him, her face pale and streaked with tears. Her hands trembled as they hovered over him, as if afraid to touch him.

"Mom…?" His voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper.

Tears slipped down her face. "Oh, my baby," she sobbed. "I thought—we thought—we almost lost you."

Caleb frowned, his mind still sluggish. Then, like a crashing wave, the memory hit him. The car. The impact. The pain.

Panic surged through him.

"Elyra—" He tried to sit up, but agony shot through his chest, forcing him to collapse back onto the bed.

"Caleb, don’t move!" His mother placed a shaking hand on his arm. "Please, you’re too weak."

His breathing turned ragged. "What happened?"

His mother hesitated, her eyes darting toward the door as if looking for a way to avoid the question.

"Mom," Caleb rasped, his frustration growing. "Tell me."

She swallowed hard before finally whispering, "You were in an accident, Caleb. The impact… it caused severe damage to your heart."

The words didn’t make sense at first.

Then the meaning sank in.

Severe damage.

His heart.

Caleb’s blood turned to ice. "What… what does that mean?"

His mother let out a broken sob. "You need a transplant, sweetheart."

The world tilted.

A transplant.

His own heart was failing.

He barely registered the sound of the machines beeping beside him or the way his mother’s fingers clutched his.

He had spent the past few days praying for Elyra to survive.

Now, he was the one dying.

"Where’s Elyra?" His voice was barely audible.

His mother hesitated, but before she could answer, the door swung open.

Elyra stood there, frail and pale, holding onto the doorframe for support.

Caleb’s heart clenched.

She shouldn’t be out of bed. She was too weak. She was

"Caleb!" Her voice wavered as she rushed forward, her movements slow but desperate.

The sight of her made his chest tighten for reasons beyond the pain.

"Elyra," he whispered.

She stopped beside his bed, her eyes wide with fear. "I heard the nurses talking. You… you need a heart transplant?"

Caleb wanted to lie, to tell her it wasn’t as bad as it seemed. But the way she was looking at him—like she already knew the truth—made it impossible.

He gave a small, broken nod.

A tear slipped down her cheek. "No," she choked out. "No, this isn’t fair."

Caleb forced a weak smile. "I could say the same about you."

Elyra shook her head violently. "I just got you back," she whispered. "I can’t lose you, Caleb. I won’t."

His mother let out a quiet sob beside him.

Caleb reached out with what little strength he had left, taking Elyra’s trembling hand in his. "You’re the strong one," he murmured. "You’ll be okay."

Elyra’s entire body shook. "No," she said again, her voice firmer this time. "I won’t be okay without you."

Something shifted in her eyes then—a resolve so fierce it made Caleb uneasy.

"Elyra—"

"I’ll fix this," she whispered.

A cold chill ran down Caleb’s spine.

"Elyra, what are you talking about?"

She pulled her hand from his grip and turned toward the door.

His heart pounded—not just from pain, but from something deeper.

"Elyra!"

She paused, her fingers clutching the fabric of her hospital gown.

Then, without looking back, she whispered, "I love you, brother."

And with that, she walked away. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Be Continued...