Jessie had finally surrendered to her exhaustion, allowing it to dull the sharp edges of her grief. She now lay peacefully asleep in her hospital bed, her breathing even, her features softened at last by rest. Watching her like that—so fragile, yet still so resolute—brought a knot to my chest. I sat in silence for a long moment, just listening to the steady rhythm of the heart monitor, grounding myself in the fact that, for now, she was safe.I knew I couldn’t stay in the same clothes I’d been wearing since the chaos began, nor could I keep going without at least a moment to reset. I leaned in close, careful not to wake her, and whispered gently, “I’m going to be right back, Jessie. Just thirty minutes—to shower, clean up, grab some clothes. I’ll be back before you even know I’m gone.”I gave her hand a soft, lingering squeeze, reluctant to let go. Then, standing slowly, I let my eyes settle on her one last time before quietly slipping out the door and into the quiet corridor. I walke
Last Updated : 2025-09-13 Read more