Ariel's solitary figure was a picture of despair, her body frame bent over Chase's bedside, her tears falling like rain upon his bandaged face. The ICU room's antiseptic scent and the soft beeping of machines seemed to fade into the background as she poured her heart out to the unconscious Chase.
Her gaze was transfixed on his pale face, her eyes scanning every inch of his features, willing him to stir, to open his eyes, and smile at her. But his face remained still, his chest rising and falling with each laboured breath.
Ariel's thoughts were a jumbled mix of fear, hope, and prayer. She couldn't bear the thought of a future without Chase by her side. The doctor's words echoed in her mind like a haunting refrain, "Prepare for the worst." But Ariel refused to accept it. She needed Chase t
