Dawn was breaking. The clock read 5:00 a.m. The hospital was still quiet, free from the usual daytime bustle of visiting families. Only the on-duty nurses and doctors moved through the halls, making their final rounds before their shifts ended.
Evander was asleep on the sofa. He had spent the entire night watching over Elena as she fought a high fever. Exhausted, he slept deeply, a soft snore escaping his lips.
In the bed, Elena began to stir. She opened her eyes and winced, blinking against a wave of dizziness. Her mouth was dry, and she was desperate for a drink. She turned her head to the right, where a pitcher of water sat. She wanted to reach for the glass beside it, but she was still too weak. On top of the injuries from the accident, the fever had drained the last of her energy.
