Chapter 5 - Midnight Alarms
The fragile peace of their reconciliation was shattered two weeks later. Elias had gone home to shower and gather more clothes, leaving Hannah asleep. He was standing under the hot water, letting the exhaustion wash over him, when his phone rang. The caller ID flashed the hospital's name.
"Mr. Thorne? It's Nurse Davis. You need to come back. Hannah's fever just spiked to 104, and she's struggling to breathe. We're moving her to the ICU."
Elias didn't remember dressing or the drive. He arrived at the hospital in a blur of panic, his heart hammering against his ribs. The ICU was a symphony of terrifying alarms and rushing medical staff. Through the glass window of her room, he saw them working on her. She was intubated. A machine was breathing for her.
Dr. Aris met him in the hallway, looking grim. "Her immune system crashed. She's developed severe pneumonia. Her body is in shock."
"Fix it," Elias demanded, his voice breaking. "Do whatever you have to do."
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"We are doing everything we can, Elias. But the next 24 hours are critical. She has to fight."
Elias placed his hands against the cold glass, watching the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest, powered by a machine. He had finally gotten her back, and now, he was watching her slip away.
