Nora's POV
The soft brush of Mack's fur against my skin pulls me back to consciousness. My eyelids feel heavy as lead, and through the haze, I catch fragments of a heated whispered argument at the foot of my bed. Everything feels distant and foggy, like I'm floating underwater. When I manage to turn my head slightly, I realize I'm no longer in the emergency room but in the intensive care unit. Through the small window, I can see the sky beginning to lighten with the first hints of dawn.
James and Antonia won't be allowed to stay here much longer with visiting hours ending soon.
Mack lets out a soft meow that draws attention to my awakening state.
"Nora." James appears at my bedside instantly, his warm fingers threading through mine with desperate tenderness. "Thank God, you're awake."
