The surgery ran ten hours.When I woke in recovery, the first thing I saw was Dr. Calloway—exhausted, smiling."It worked. You're going to walk again."I wept with relief. I tried to talk. No sound came out.He patted my hand. "Easy. Rest. We have time."The months that followed were the hardest I'd ever known.Every stretch. Every attempt to stand. It was like dancing on a blade.But I didn't stop.Because I knew: this was my only way back.And through every one of those days, Julian was there.He wasn't forceful anymore. He sat beside me, silent.If I fell, he was the first one there.If I cried from the pain, he was the one gently wiping my face.He moved like a penitent. He was trying, with everything he had, to make something right.I still didn't say yes to him.The thorn in my chest was still there.Then, one day, Dr. Calloway told me that Emma had woken up.I went still for half a second. Then I said, calmly, "Is she all right?"He nodded."She has a long road ahead. But she'll
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