Nina's He reached for his tablet, checking something before he spoke again. “Nina…” He hesitated this time, choosing his words with care. “Your eyes look good like said earlier. The transplant went well. But…” The word made my stomach knot. “But what?” He crouched beside me so we were eye level, and his tone was calm and reassuring. “There’s a little swelling around your optic nerves,” he explained gently. “It’s from the stress you’ve been through and your pregnancy. It’s not dangerous, but I don’t want to take chances.” I swallowed hard, my fingers curling into the sheets. “What does that mean? Am I… going to lose…” “No.” His voice was firm, leaving no room for doubt. “You’re not going to lose your sight. But I need to watch you closely. Both you and the baby.” The baby. My hand moved to my stomach on instinct, cradling the life inside me. For weeks, I’d fought to survive even for this child. For us and now, hearing him say that… relief washed over me, warm and heavy. Willi
Nina’s POV A soft sound woke me, it was steady, and rhythmic, and almost like the gentle beat of a drum. Beep… beep… beep. At first, it felt far away, then much closer, wrapping around me like a faint melody. My body was so heavy, My eyelids felt sealed, weighted down as if someone had pressed sandbags over them. For a moment, I just stayed there, floating in that strange in-between moment where nothing hurt, but nothing felt real either. Then the smell hit me, it was sharp, clean, and sterile. That was an antiseptic. It burned faintly at the back of my throat, reminding me I wasn’t in my room. I wasn’t anywhere familiar. Where am I? The thought came slow, lazy, as if my brain had to dig it out from under layers of fog. Something tugged at my hand, a tube. The prickling on my skin told me there was an IV. My fingers twitched slightly, brushing against the cool sheets. I tried to lift my arm, but it felt like trying to move stone. And then, the memories rushed back, the nurse’s v
The nurse’s voice was very calm and almost soothing as she spoke softly beside me. “We’re all done here, ma’am. Now we’ll transfer you to the procedure room immediately.” Her words lingered in the air like a promise. it was Heavy. I swallowed hard, feeling my chest tighten with something I couldn’t name. Maybe fear. Maybe hope, or maybe disbelief. My heart pounded so loudly it was like a drum inside my head, drowning out every other sound. I gave a small nod, though I doubted she even saw it. Then it came again, the feeling of movement. The bed beneath me jolted slightly and began to roll forward. A gentle push, then another as it keeps moving. The wheels hummed against the polished floor, their rhythm steady, carrying me away. Away to where everything would change. I couldn’t see where I was going. I couldn’t even guess. All I had were fragments, the cool air brushing over my skin, the faint sterile smell of antiseptic growing sharper, biting almost, as we moved farther down
His words felt like an anchor in the middle of my storm. I’ll keep you safe, till you get stronger ok!. I had to believe him. I had to cling to that promise like air. “You’ll deliver your baby safely,” William said, his voice steady, like he was swearing an oath. “I’ll make sure of that. No one will hurt you again.” I swallowed hard, my hands resting on my stomach. My baby… the only piece of me that still feels alive. “But you can’t leave here,” he continued gently. “It’s not safe for you or the baby.” I nodded, even though tears burned behind my empty eyes. He took my hand, warm and firm. “First, I’ll prepare an eye transplant for you. I’ll make sure you have your corneas back.” His voice softened, breaking through my darkness. “You’ll see again, Nina. You’ll see again. I promise.” A single tear slipped down my cheek. For the first time since everything fell apart, I felt hope fighting its way back into me. “We’ll run a few tests first, then prepare for surgery. I’ll make
NINA’S POV The first thing I felt was a deep air, very heavy, raw, and burning as it rushed into my chest. My throat stung, even my body was weak, like I had been fighting for too long. I could hear faint voices drifting around me, moving in and out, but I couldn’t place them. Then a soft touch brushed my right arm. Someone was close. My heart kicked, fear rising in my chest. “Who… who are you?” My voice came out very low, and broken. Then, a voice. “Nina… it’s me. William.” . For a second I thought I was dreaming. William? Here? “You’re safe now,” he said. His hand closed gently over mine, steady, very real. “Thank God you’re safe. You had already taken in a lot of water when I pulled you out. But you’re much better now. You only slept for too long, that’s all.” My lips parted. The questions rushed out, weak but sharp. “You pulled me out? Out… were you there when I drowned?” He let out a breath. “I happened to be on the ferry. One of the crew had a minor emergency, I was tending t
Nina’s POV The sea punched the breath from my lungs. And the cold wasn’t just around me but it was inside me, biting me deep, tearing through my skin. My mouth opened in shock and the ocean rushed in, the water was salty, so burning, and choking. I couldn’t stop it. and I couldn’t fight it or do anything to save myself. My arms flailed helplessly, but there was nothing to hold on to, only water, so endless and so heavy. “Elijah!” I tried to scream, but only bubbles rose from my mouth, spiraling away. The current caught me, twisting me, flipping me over and over until I didn’t know which way was up. The roar in my ears drowned every thought right that moment. My chest ached so badly, my body begged for air, but there was none. The water was crushing me, as I kicked hard, but my legs felt like stone, heavy that I could do nothing. My clothes pulled me lower. My lungs convulsed, water still forcing its way deeper inside. Somewhere far, far above, I head shouts br