Elissa’s heart lurched, her pulse racing like a runaway train. She wasn’t a medical professional, but even she could see that Addy’s condition was critical, possibly life-threatening.

Her hands shook as she resumed biting her nail, an icy wave of fear coursing through her veins. She stared at the emergency room doors, unblinking, whispering under her breath, “Grandpa, Grandpa… please, hold on…”

Time dragged on, each tick of the clock stretching into an agonizing eternity. At last, the doors swung open again, revealing the doctor, his expression heavy with the weight of what he had to say.

“Doctor!” Elissa seized his arm, her voice quivering with desperation. “My grandfather—he is going to be alright, isn’t he?”

The doctor hesitated, his brow furrowing as he exchanged a glance with Ernest, with whom he had discussed Addy’s condition since the old man was taken in. Slowly, he shook his head.

“We did everything we could, but…”

In that moment, Elissa froze, as if the world had stopped turning. Her body stiffened, her eyes vacant, her lips parted as if to cry out, but no sound escaped.

The doctor continued gently, “Given Mr. Holland’s age, the strain of the resuscitation days ago was already too much for his body to endure. And now…”

“Enough!” Ernest cut him off sharply, his face clouded with frustration and grief.

He turned to Elissa, whose dazed expression tore at his heart. “Elissa…”

“Grandpa!”

Before he could say more, Elissa pushed past him, her legs carrying her into the emergency room with desperate urgency.

“Elissa!” Ernest called, racing after her.

“Grandpa!”

Inside, Elissa flung back the curtain surrounding the hospital bed.

There lay Addy, still and pale, the spark of life extinguished. The nurses, quietly tidying up after the failed resuscitation, stepped back as Elissa approached.

?ore capters @ g?ν?

Tears welled in Elissa’s eyes, spilling over as her vision blurred. She moved toward the bed, her steps halting and uncertain, until she stood at his side.

And then she saw him clearly—Addy’s eyes closed, his face drained of color, lifeless.

A low, guttural sound escaped her throat, not a scream, but a raw, heart-wrenching lament that seemed to echo through her very being.

“Grandpa… Grandpa…” Elissa’s trembling hands reached out, tenderly cradling Addy’s face, as if her touch could somehow call him back.

Tears cascaded down her cheeks, falling like a relentless downpour as she squeezed her eyes shut.

“Grandpa! No—” Her breath caught in her throat, a sharp gasp as she clutched her chest, struggling to draw air.

“Elissa?” Ernest darted to her side, steadying her as her breathing grew ragged, her face betraying a desperate need for oxygen.

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