Chapter 167

• -Elli
• I slowly became aware of the soft beeping of machines around me, the scent of antiseptic filling the air in a way that was both familiar and jarring. My eyelids felt heavy, as if weighted down by dreams I couldn’t quite remember. I fluttered them open, squinting against the harsh fluorescent lights that seemed too bright, too intrusive.
• As my vision cleared, I took in my surroundings. A hospital room. The beeping continued, rhythmic and steady. But it wasn't the machines that held my attention. It was him—Logan—slumped over in the chair beside my bed, his head resting on his arms. His presence was like a balm to my frayed nerves, even as my heart started to race with the weight of uncertainty.