Chapter 13

Silvia The hushed, sterile silence of the hospital corridor seemed to swallow the sound of my own frantic heartbeat. My hand trembled as it closed around the cold metal door handle. Pushing it open, I felt my breath catch. "Noah?" My voice was a fragile thing, cracking under the weight of the hours. The sterile scent of antiseptic and medicine hit me as I entered. Morning sunlight filtered through the half-drawn blinds, casting soft shadows across the pale blue walls. His head turned toward me slowly. His face was pale and thinner than before, but his eyes lit up when they found me. "Silvia?" His voice was a dry rasp, weaker than I'd ever heard it, but it was there. A sob I'd been choking back finally broke free. I practically stumbled to his bedside, my knees giving way as I dropped beside him. My hands flew to his, my fingers lacing with his. His skin was cool, his grip frighteningly weak. It felt like holding onto a ghost. "Oh, Noah," I wept, the words tumbling out between ragged br