Clara did not leave Emory's bedside.She had been there for hours, sitting in the chair that Cassian had occupied for days, holding her daughter's small hand in both of hers. The nurses came and went, checking vitals, adjusting IVs, offering quiet words of encouragement. Clara barely noticed them. Her entire world had narrowed to this room, this bed, this child."Hello, sweetheart," she murmured. "It's me again. I know I keep saying that. But I want you to know I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere."Emory did not respond. Her eyes were still fixed on the middle distance, unfocused and unreachable."I want to tell you a story," Clara continued, stroking her daughter's hair. "About a little boy named Colt. You know Colt, of course. He's your best friend. But I want to tell you about when he was a baby."She settled back in her chair, her voice soft and steady."He was so small when he was born. Even smaller than you, I think. He had to stay in an incubator for weeks. I used to sit bes
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