Selena lay motionless in her ICU bed, surrounded by the sterile, high-tech environment of the intensive care unit. The room was a small, glass-enclosed cubicle, with a sliding glass door that allowed the medical staff to easily observe her from the nurses' station outside.
The nurses' station was a bustling hub of activity, with phones ringing, computers beeping, and the soft murmur of conversation filling the air. The staff moved with a quiet confidence, their faces set in determined expressions as they worked to save the lives of their critically ill patients.
The walls of the room were a pale, institutional blue, and the floor was covered in a smooth, gray linoleum. The air was thick with the smell of antiseptic and the faint tang of medication. A faint hum of machinery and the soft beeping of monitors filled the air, creating a constant, soothing background noise.
To Selena's left, a bank of monitors displayed her vital signs in bright, glowing numbers. A cardiac monitor tracked her heart rate, while a ventilator hummed softly as it assisted her breathing. An IV pole stood sentinel beside her bed, its bags of medication and fluids hanging like transparent, plastic fruits.
To the right, Liam sat in a chair, fast asleep, his bedraggled look a testimony to the long hours he had spent by Selena's side. His dark blond hair was mussed and unkempt, and a scruff of stubble covered his chin. Despite his tired appearance, his handsome face was still evident, with high cheekbones and a strong jawline.
Liam was dressed in comfortable clothes, a faded pair of jeans, and a soft, gray t-shirt. A worn leather jacket was draped over the back of his chair, and a pair of scuffed-up sneakers sat on the floor beside him. A few comfort items were scattered around him: a favorite book, a worn baseball cap, and a small, silver pendant in the shape of a Celtic knot.
As he slept, Liam's chest rose and fell with a slow, steady rhythm, and his face was relaxed, free from the worry and concern that had etched lines on his forehead for so long. Despite the exhaustion that was evident in every line of his body, there was a sense of vigilance about him, a sense of being on guard. The beeps were now like sleep sounds to him.
Across from Selena's bed, a large, glass window offered a view of the nurses' station, where a team of ICU nurses and doctors moved with quiet efficiency, monitoring the conditions of their patients and responding to the constant stream of beeps and alarms that filled the air. Every so often, a nurse would peek into the room. It was romantic to see someone so devoted to their girlfriend or wife.
Despite the chaos and activity that surrounded her, Selena's room was quiet and peaceful, finally. The soft glow of the monitors and the gentle hum of the machinery created a soothing background noise, while the faint scent of antiseptic and medication hung in the air like a thin, sterile mist.
As the medical staff moved in and out of Selena's room, they did they either spoke softly as not to awaken the man who finally had fallen asleep during his vigil. Her family filtered in and out, two at a time, their faces set in somber expressions as they prayed for the life of the young woman who lay motionless before them. The atmosphere was one of hushed tension, as if the very fate of the patient was tied to something very important. The helplessness and grief were written upon their faces. Their very posture was affected by the weight of their grief.
As Selena slowly opened her eyes, she was met with a wave of intense pain that washed over her entire body. Her chest felt like it was on fire, and every breath she took sent a sharp stabbing sensation through her lungs. She tried to move, but a searing pain shot through her side, making her gasp. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her, and her head spun. The machines beeped as her heart rate rose. She felt the soreness in her throat from her intubation.
Liam stirred in his chair, his eyes opening. He looked at her with relief and pity. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and quickly sat up. "Selena," he said, his voice filled with relief. "You're awake."
As she looked around, eyes wide with panic, she saw that she was in a hospital room, surrounded by beeping machines and sterile white walls. She saw Liam sitting in a chair next to her bed, his eyes red-rimmed from lack of sleep. Stubble had grown.
"Selena," he said, his voice filled with relief. "Calm down, don't move."
Selena tried to speak, but her voice was hoarse and barely audible. She cleared her throat, wincing in pain.
"Liam," she croaked. "What...what happened?"
Liam got up and approached her, so she did not need to try to talk so loudly. Liam took her hand, his eyes filled with tears.
"You were shot," he said. "You were rushed to the hospital, and Gunn operated on you. You've been in the ICU for days."
Selena's eyes widened in shock as the memories came flooding back. She remembered the argument with Liam, running out of the lab, and the sound of gunfire.
She felt a wave of overwhelming fear wash over her, followed by a deep gratitude and emotion towards Liam. He had been there, putting pressure on the wound. Apologizing, pleading for her not to give up, he had said he loved her. He said he could not live without her. Tears flooded her eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. "Thank you for staying with me, through that I heard your voice."
"Hey, do not cry." Liam dabbed. He grabbed a tissue and dabbed her tears. The tenderness brought her back to sweet memories. Liam squeezed her hand, his dry, bloodshot eyes filled with tears.
"I'm just glad you're okay," he said. "I was so scared, Selena. I thought I was going to lose you. I was so stupid."
Selena smiled weakly, feeling Liam's big, warm hand covering hers.
"I'm okay, we both are stupid," she whispered. "I'll be out of here soon, then we can talk."
As she spoke, she felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her, and her eyes began to droop. He looked at her, his eyes searching hers. She would be exhausted, and breathing must hurt.
Liam leaned forward. "Rest, Selena," he whispered. "I'll be here when you wake up." He heard a clunk as contents spilled out of her belongings bag.
Selena smiled weakly, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. She closed her eyes, letting the darkness wash over her, and drifted off to sleep. Liam smiled and bent down to pick up the fallen items off the floor.
Liam's eyes dropped and widened in shock as he picked up the heart locket that had fallen out of the hospital-issued plastic "belongings bag". He hadn't seen it in years, but the familiar shape and design brought back a flood of memories. He gave this to her when Molly died after the last time she was in the hospital.
He picked up the locket, opened the locket, and his hands began to shake. Inside, he found a small cut-out picture of the two of them from the photobooth at the start of senior year. They were both smiling, their faces close together, and their eyes shining with happiness.
Liam's heart skipped a beat as he gazed at the picture. He had forgotten about that day, but now it all came rushing back. The laughter, the excitement, and the quick kiss that she had planted on his lips that summer. He had won her that stuffed zebra beforehand at the ring toss.
He felt a lump form in his throat as he realized that Selena still thought about him, remembered that tiny special moment they had shared. He kicked himself for brushing aside the kiss as just being friendly. It did linger. The fact that she had kept it, and that it still held a special place in her heart touched Liam deeply.
He looked up, his eyes scanning the hospital room until they landed on Selena's sleeping form. He felt a surge of love and gratitude towards her, and he knew at that moment that he would do anything to make her happy.
Liam's hands were still shaking as he carefully closed the locket and placed it back on the bedside table. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart, and sat down in the chair beside Selena's bed, watching over her as she slept.
Liam's eyes never left Selena's face as he sat beside her ICU bed, his hand clasped tightly around hers. He had been watching over her for days, refusing to leave her side except to eat and shower. The rest of the team had taken turns sitting with her, but Liam was always there, his eyes fixed on her face.
As the hours ticked by, Liam's eyelids began to droop again, his exhaustion finally catching up with him. He tried to fight it, but his head nodded forward, his chin dipping towards his chest. Just as he was about to jerk himself awake, his body relaxed, and he fell into a deep sleep, his hand still clasped around Selena's. But his rest was short-lived. A loud beeping sound pierced the air, and Liam's eyes snapped open. He sat up with a start, his heart racing as he took in the scene before him.
Dr. Patel rushed into the room, his eyes fixed intently on the monitor above Selena's bed. The beeping of the machines grew more urgent, and Liam's heart sank as he watched the doctor's face set in a calm, focused expression.
"Get me a cart," Dr. Patel called out, his voice firm and authoritative. "Let's get a stat ECG."
Liam watched in a daze as Dr. Patel quickly examined Selena. He began by checking her airway, gently lifting her chin and inspecting her oxygen mask to ensure it was properly secured. Next, he checked her breathing, listening to her chest with a stethoscope and observing the rise and fall of her chest.
As a cardiologist, Dr. Patel's primary focus was on Selena's heart. He quickly checked her jugular venous pressure, inspecting the veins in her neck for signs of distension. He then checked her apical pulse, listening to her heart sounds with his stethoscope.
Dr. Patel's eyes narrowed as he listened to Selena's heart sounds. He could hear the irregular rhythm, the skipped beats, and extra beats that indicated a serious cardiac arrhythmia. He quickly checked her blood pressure, noting the low reading on the monitor.
"Sir, you need to leave." Dr. Patel demanded, his voice firm and decisive. "We may need to cardiovert her. Get me that cart now."