The night stretched on forever.Xander didn't leave his father's side. He sat in the plastic chair beside the hospital bed, holding the old man's hand, watching the machines beep and the monitors flicker. Ella stayed with him, her hand on his shoulder, her presence a quiet anchor in the storm.The old man drifted in and out of consciousness. Sometimes his eyes would open, cloudy and confused, and he'd whisper something Xander couldn't understand. Sometimes he'd squeeze Xander's hand, a brief pressure that seemed to say *I'm still here. I'm still fighting.*But as the hours passed, his grip weakened. His breathing grew shallower. The doctors came and went, their faces grim, their voices hushed."The next few hours are critical," one of them said. "His heart is failing. We're doing everything we can, but—""But he's dying."The doctor didn't answer. He didn't have to.---Dawn broke over the city, gray and cold.Xander hadn't slept. Hadn't eaten. Hadn't done anything except sit beside h
Last Updated : 2026-05-10 Read more