The first thing Henry Camden heard when he opened his eyes was the soft beeping of a monitor. His vision was blurry at first, the bright hospital lights making him squint.
For a long moment, he just stared at the ceiling, trying to piece together what had happened.
He remembered the lake. The sunlight. Meeting Sandra when he got home with Rachel. His fight with Sandra and then how the world had gone dark.
He turned his head slightly. Sandra was seated beside his bed, scrolling through her phone. Her hair was tied up neatly, her face pale with fatigue. When she noticed he was awake, she quickly straightened up.
"Grandfather?" she said, relief flooding her voice as she leaned closer. "You're awake."
Henry blinked a few times, his lips parting as if it took effort to speak. "Rachel…" His voice was hoarse. "Where's Rachel?"
The smile that had begun to form on Sandra's face vanished. She pulled back slightly, her jaw tightening. "She's gone," she said flatly.
