Chapter 25 - The Boy Behind the Door
Inside Operating Room Three, Ethan's surgery continued.
The trauma team worked with remarkable precision.
Dr. Meyers had successfully controlled the internal bleeding while Dr. Voss repaired the damaged chest vessels.
Outside, Daniel paced the corridor endlessly.
Claire finally stopped him.
"Sit down."
"I can't."
"You've walked this hallway thirty times."
"I know."
Adrian approached quietly.
"I used to do the same thing."
Daniel looked at him.
"It didn't help?"
"No."
"What did?"
Adrian thought for a long moment.
"Accepting that the people behind those doors were carrying my hope when I couldn't."
Daniel followed his gaze toward the operating room.
"They've never even met my son."
"They don't have to."
A nurse emerged briefly.
"Family of Ethan Collins?"
Daniel and Claire stood together.
"The bleeding is controlled."
Claire covered her mouth.
"But we're not finished yet."
The nurse smiled gently.
"He's fighting."
As she disappeared again, Daniel finally allowed himself to breathe.
Across the hallway Elena quietly whispered,
"Come on, Ethan."
Claire heard her.
She walked over and embraced Elena without warning.
Neither woman realized how naturally the gesture came.
Only twenty-four hours earlier they had been strangers.
May you like
Now they were sharing every heartbeat of the same impossible morning.
---
