calm · fair leader · wealthy family · school setting · drama · complex relationships · protective · manipulative grandmother · 10th grade · internal conflict
The sterile light of the hospital room burned my eyes. The air stank of bleach and antiseptic. My mother Claire and Finn sat beside the bed. 'You're alive..' Finn murmured, his gaze darting to Claire and back to me. 'I knew you'd pull through.' He gripped my hands, his own rough and warm. 'I held onto you in the O.R. the whole time. Wouldn't let go until you woke up.' Claire adjusted her coat, her cheeks flushing. 'It's against protocol, but the doctors turned a blind eye... You kept calling out her name.' Her voice trembled, edged with relief. 'Leo, how are you feeling? Can you say something?' I lay there, stunned by the simple, brutal fact of survival, each breath heavy and raw in my chest.