Chapter 49

Alice's determination:

The first several weeks following Arnold's injury were a whirl of restless nights, incessant pacing, and a nagging worry that threatened to take me whole. As I sat by his bedside, watching the rise and fall of his chest with each difficult breath, I couldn't escape the feeling that time was running out and that the window of opportunity for him to wake up and return to me was gradually closing. But then, in the quietest moments, when the hospital was bathed in the calm of darkness and the world seemed to hold its breath, I felt a tiny flutter from within—a reminder of the life we had built together, the embodiment of our love that deserved to meet its father. And in those moments, a furious determination would flow through me, solidifying my will like steel. I wouldn't give up. Not on Arnold, our family, and especially not on me. With a renewed sense of purpose, I began to play an active role in Arnold's care, looking over medical publications and communicating