Consciousness returned in fragments, like a shattered mirror piecing itself back together. The ICU's sterile silence pressed in on him, broken only by the steady beep of machines and the hushed voices of nurses.
Jim became aware of a figure next to his bed, a soft blur that gradually sharpened into focus. Rory's face, pale and drawn, held a look of relief tempered by worry. She squeezed his hand, murmuring his name.
"Hey," he managed, his throat dry.
Her smile trembled, and he saw the tears she was trying to hold back. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I went ten rounds with Tyson." He tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over him. "What happened?"
Rory's eyes darted to the heart monitor, its rhythms a chaotic melody. "They had to defibrillate you. Your heart stopped for a few seconds."
"Y……
Waiting for the first comment……
Please log in to leave a comment.