Chapter 8: The Awakening**
Three days later, the morning sun broke through the autumn clouds for the first time in a week, casting golden beams across the pediatric recovery room.
Thomas was asleep in the armchair, his hand still resting on the edge of the mattress.
A tiny, delicate finger twitched against his palm.
Thomas jolted awake instantly. Lily’s eyelids fluttered, blinking against the soft sunlight. Her hazel eyes, so much like her mother’s, slowly focused on his face.
“Daddy…?” her voice was barely more than a dry whisper.
“I’m here, baby. Daddy’s right here,” Thomas choked out, kissing her forehead, his tears wetting her hair. “You’re safe. You’re completely safe.”
Lily looked around the room, her gaze landing on Leo, who was asleep curled up on the small sofa with his knees pulled to his chest. A faint, beautiful smile appeared on the little girl's lips.
“Daddy… I was in the dark,” Lily whispered softly. “It was so cold and scary. But I heard Leo yelling outside the box. He told me to keep breathing until you found me.”
Leo stirred, rubbing his eyes, and when he saw Lily looking at him, a wide, radiant grin broke across his face. “Hey, sunflower,” Leo said softly.
May you like
“Hey, Leo,” she replied.
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