#Chapter 109: Vigil and Understanding

The days that followed became a strange rhythm of hope and despair, marked by the steady beep of monitors and the soft shuffle of nurses' shoes on linoleum. The medical facility became my world, reduced to the narrow space between my mother's bed and the uncomfortable chairs that Kane somehow kept replacing with better ones. I lost track of time. Meals arrived when Kane brought them. Coffee appeared at my elbow when my eyes grew heavy. Blankets materialized when the air conditioning made me shiver. It was like having a guardian angel who refused to acknowledge his own existence. My mother's condition rode a roller coaster that left everyone exhausted. One hour she'd be sitting up, asking pointed questions about Kane's marital status. The next, alarms would sound and healers would rush in, their faces tight with professional worry. During the worst episode, when her breathing turned shallow and the monitors screamed warnings, I found myself gripping Kane's hand without thinking. He d