The grief was immediate and crushing, hollowing her out from the inside.
Evelyn’s shoulders trembled as silent tears soaked into the pillow.
She couldn’t scream.
She couldn’t ask why.
She couldn’t even cry properly.
She just shook.
Axel bent down, resting his forehead against hers, his voice barely holding together. "I’m so sorry," he whispered brokenly. "I’m so, so sorry."
"No. It’s my fault. It’s my..." Her grip tightened painfully, nails digging into his skin as if she were trying to anchor herself in reality.
Tears streamed endlessly down her face, each one heavier than the last.
Axel wrapped her gently in his arms, careful of her injuries, holding her as close as he dared.
His own tears finally fell, dripping onto her hair as he pressed his face against her temple.
They stayed like that, clinging to each other in the quiet room, grief thick and suffocating between them.
No words could soften the loss. Only the steady warmth of his arms, and the shared understanding that she had survived—but at a cost neither of them had been ready to pay.
Axel only loosened his embrace when he heard hurried footsteps outside the room.
The door opened, and the doctor on duty entered, closely followed by an agile-looking senior nurse.
Axel stepped back to the edge of the bed, giving them space while never once taking his eyes off Evelyn.
Even as relief washed over him at the sight of her awake, unease gnawed at his chest. Her body had survived the surgery, but her heart had just endured something far more fragile. He worried she might shatter at the slightest push.
The doctor checked Evelyn’s vitals carefully, examining the monitors, shining a light into her eyes, and gently testing her responsiveness. The nurse adjusted a few lines and noted numbers on a clipboard. Evelyn endured it all quietly, exhaustion written plainly on her face.
After a few minutes, the doctor turned toward Axel with a respectful nod.
"Sir, I’ve checked Mrs. Knight’s condition. Her vital signs are stable. Blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels are all within normal range," he explained calmly. "She has just undergone major surgery for multiple injuries... She needs complete bed rest for now. Any sudden movement could cause pain or complications."
Axel exhaled slowly, tension finally easing from his shoulders.
"Thank you, doctor."
The doctor nodded again, clearly understanding how much those words meant. "We’ll continue monitoring her closely. If there’s any discomfort or change, call us immediately."
As the doctor turned to leave, Evelyn suddenly lifted her hand slightly, her voice hoarse but firm.
"Doctor... can you remove this?"
She glanced at the IV line with visible irritation.
The doctor paused, surprised. "It’s for hydration and medication, Mrs. Knight."
"I feel uncomfortable," she said honestly. "I just want it out."
The doctor hesitated, then nodded after checking her chart. "All right. We’ll remove it for now, but if you feel dizzy or weak, we may need to reinsert it."
He carefully removed the IV, the nurse assisting efficiently.
Once everything was settled, they excused themselves, quietly closing the door behind them.

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