Anna’s POVThe room blurred.Faces… voices… accusations… all bleeding into one loud ringing inside my head.I could barely breathe.Everything felt distant… like I was watching life happen through thick glass.But one person I could still see was Alex.And somehow, even with everyone shouting, he felt miles away.My throat tightened.I forced the word out… barely a whisper, but loud enough to cut through the chaos.“Alex…”Aunt Flora reacted first, rushing to my side the moment she heard panic in my voice.“Sweetheart, breathe… slow, slow… look at me,” she whispered, wiping sweat from my forehead.My heart hammered violently against my ribs, and the oxygen mask did little to calm the storm rising inside me.Alex finally moved.He crossed the room in long, urgent strides and took my hand in both of his. His eyes locked onto mine… full of worry, not doubt anymore. The earlier uncertainty I’d seen was gone, replaced by something fierce and protective.“It’s okay,” he murmured. “I’m here.
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