The hospital room smelled like antiseptic and old metal.
The sound of the heart monitor was steady, almost rhythmic.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Lucas sat stiffly in the chair beside Ethan's bed, gripping his knees, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached.
He had felt Ethan move. Just earlier.
A twitch in the fingers. A shift in breath. His eyes had fluttered open for a second.
Lucas had seen it.
That brief moment of consciousness.
"Ethan!" he had shouted.
Ayumi had nearly tripped rushing in, and Charlotte had dropped the water cup in her hands.
But then—
The doctor came in, checked the vitals again, calmly reattached a line to Ethan's IV and turned toward them.
"He was awake, yes. But... it seems it was only temporary. His brain activity is consistent with a coma state now."
A pause. No apology. Just facts.
"He's slipped back in."
And with that, the room fell silent.
Ayumi broke down crying in the corner, covering her mouth.
