Chapter 8 - The Awakening
By 8:00 AM the following morning, bright morning sunlight streamed through the window blinds of the ICU room, casting golden bars across the white sheets.
Adrian sat beside the bed, his beige wool blazer removed, his black turtleneck sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hand was gently wrapping around Elena’s small, pale fingers. He had not slept a single minute for twenty-four hours.
Elena’s eyelids fluttered softly. A low groan escaped her lips as she slowly woke up from the heavy sedation.
Adrian leaned in instantly, his heart beating fast against his ribs. "Elena? Can you hear me?"
Elena’s dark eyes opened slowly, unfocusing for a second before fixing on Adrian’s face. Panic flared in her eyes, her fingers twitching inside his hand as she tried to pull back.
"A-Adrian...?" she rasped, her voice dry and hoarse. "Where... where is my baby?! What happened to my baby?!"
"Shh, stay calm, sweetie," Adrian coaxed gently, reaching over with his other hand to stroke her dark wavy hair away from her damp forehead. "Our daughter is safe. She’s in the NICU. She’s breathing on her own, Elena. She's healthy."
Elena froze, tears welling up instantly in her dark eyes and spilling down her pale cheeks. "Our... daughter?"
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"Yes," Adrian whispered, his voice cracking with genuine emotion for the first time. "Our baby girl."
Elena looked away, her breath coming in heavy, trembling hitches. "You weren't supposed to know, Adrian... I was trying to protect her from your family..."
