The moment Vivian's eyes opened, even if only slightly, something shifted in the room in a way no machine could measure. The steady beeping of the monitor continued, calm and controlled, but for Sebastian, everything else seemed to fall away.
For hours, he had stood there, watching her lie still, her body unmoving and her presence distant, as though she had drifted somewhere beyond his reach. He had spoken to her more than once, even though he knew she could not respond, his voice low and restrained, as if holding himself together required effort he could barely sustain.
Now, as her lashes trembled and her breathing changed, something inside him tightened with a force he could not control.
"Vivian…" he called softly, stepping closer.
