Chapter 8 - The Awakening
At 5:00 AM, the heavy doors of Trauma Bay Two swung open. Dr. Chen stepped out into the quiet corridor, pulling off his surgical mask with a tired but deeply satisfied sigh.
Matthew instantly stood up, his heart pounding against his ribs.
“She’s stable, Mr. Sullivan,” Dr. Chen said, offering a reassuring smile. “The internal bleeding was severe, and her ribs were fractured, but we managed to repair the liver laceration and stabilize her blood pressure. She is a remarkably strong woman. She will recover.”
Matthew closed his eyes, letting out a long, ragged breath that felt like six years of trapped air leaving his lungs. “Thank you, Doctor. Thank you.”
By sunrise, Anne had been transferred to the hospital’s finest private ICU suite. Warm golden sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, illuminating the room filled with fresh white lilies and soft leather armchairs.
Matthew sat beside the bed, holding Sarah on his lap. The little girl was awake now, sipping warm milk from a mug, her dark eyes glued to her mother’s pale face.
A soft, raspy groan echoed from the bed.
Anne’s long eyelashes fluttered, her hand twitching against the crisp white sheets. She blinked slowly against the light, her gaze sweeping the room in confusion until it settled on the figure sitting beside her.
Her breath caught in her throat.
“Matthew...?” Anne whispered, her voice barely a thread of sound. She blinked hard, as if believing her mind was playing a cruel trick on her. “Am I... am I dead?”
“No, my sweet love,” Matthew choked out, reaching across the bed to gently wrap his broad hand around hers. “You're alive. You're completely safe.”
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Tears instantly filled Anne’s dark eyes. Panic flared in her chest as she tried to sit up, her cardiac monitor chiming softly. “Sarah... where is my baby? The car... I couldn't reach her—”
“I’m right here, Mommy!” Sarah squeaked, leaning over Matthew’s arm to press her small cheek against Anne’s arm. “The big nice man saved us! He didn't even make me give away Daisy or the tea set!”
