Reflection

noise started, whispers, gasps, the sound of

out into

?" he asked no o

heard

el

Without thinking, he bolted down t

stopped

limp, her body tremblin

ely

on, he gathered her into his arms, her head falling weakly against hi

me," Zarien muttered,

unning. She pulled a handkerchief from her side bag

athy said through tears.

carrying Evelyn in his arms like she was weightless. Cathy kept pace behind

ough the lobby, e

eir eyes wide. Conversat

n shock. Some

f them. His face was tight

hat mattered was the woman in his arms

urst open with a gus

shouted, his voice cutting

ds, pushed by two attendants in scrubs. Zarien gently laid Evelyn down, his han

asked sharply, checking Evelyn's

ng from the nose and mouth," Cathy explained breath

slightly, her lips pa

" another nurse said urge

squeaking on the tile. Zarien moved to follo

wait her

g her," he snap

n. Let us stabi

fists clenched at his sides, watchi

his arm. "She's strong," she w

e doors where Evelyn had vanished, his chest heavy wi

s like smoke, but the panic had passed. What remained was a thick, unc

rested on the keyboard, unmoving. She hadn't typed a

ospital," someone mutte

d she was

ried her ou

but her chest felt tight. Something strange stirr

he care

urned through

, the urgency in his voice, the way h

he felt a rush of cruel triumph when the wh

l like I'm the one

. "Did you hear? They admitted

Oh," she said flatly. "

o her screen, pretending t

with tears, but with somethi

ooked at m

ging quietly behind her eyes

e was a blank face... and fingers t

o the hospital?" A voice cut

Mariam, stood across from her

oolly, forcing a smile. "It'

ange. But the silence between

ariam said finally. "Ever since Zari

faltered. "Don'

d the other day. About how 'maybe

bruptly. "Watc

k with a smirk. "Sure. I'll watch it - esp

t dropped. "Y

asked, alread

. The game had shifted. And this t

in the ICU. Evelyn lay motionless,

from lack of sleep, mind knotted wit

e corner, watch

d softly. "Get her something comfortabl

down at Evelyn's fragile fo

d. "She's s

an in the hospital bed, Zarien e

he said, then disappeared

elyn and gently adjuste

," she whispered. "

d softly. Outside the ICU window,

quiet. Her eyes weren't filled with concern

once at the

she s

lled out a small vial, trembling in her

d, leaning in close. "I told

lightly, her eye

a few drops into Evelyn's IV line

drop fell, a loud knock

y fr

a tall man with dark jeans, sharp eyes

outed, rushing

he vial. It clattered to the

she barked, rec

an snapped. "Where is the

d faintly, he

, creeping red in her IV line. He grabbed

ell did you

"I was helping, s

open again, and this time, Zarien was standi

hard, slamming int

bag filled with Evelyn's clothes. But

The IV line dripped slowly with a strange tint of red. Evelyn lay

on in here?" Zarien's vo

rply. "You, are you in charge here?

oor, where the small vial lay glintin

ly, voice hardening.

ed. "He barged in and

re you," M

faintly. Her f

her side. He grabbed her hand gently.

rd the door, panic fla

alik said, stepping toward h

t," Cathy breathed,

th confusion or pity, but w

out. Security will meet you at the f

dden, pathetic tears. But n

ik leaned over Evelyn and

e whispered. "You'r

d by the tenderness in his

ain. Her eyes ope

... was the two men standin