Chapter 5 - Voices In The Dark
Three days passed in a quiet, agonizing blur.
Miles moved his office entirely to the private waiting suite adjacent to Emily's room. He managed company affairs in brief, quiet bursts, delegating authority to his trusted vice presidents while dedicating every remaining minute to his family.
He transformed the hospital room into a place of warmth. Fresh flowers filled the window sills, soft blankets replaced the sterile hospital linens, and a small nightlight shaped like a star rested on the bedside table—just like the one Sophie had missed from her own room.
Sophie rarely left her mother’s side. She sat on a chair pulled right up against the bed, holding Emily’s pale hand, reading simple storybooks aloud or talking to her about Mr. Buttons’ imaginary adventures.
Miles sat nearby, watching the gentle rhythm of the heart monitor. The steady beep... beep... beep... was the only proof that his sister was still fighting her way back to them.
On the fourth evening, as the sun began to set, painting the sky in deep shades of gold and purple, Miles sat alone by the bed. Sophie had finally fallen asleep on the plush sofa in the corner of the room, wrapped in a blanket.
Miles took Emily’s limp hand in his own. Her fingers were warm now, no longer ice-cold as they had been on the night of the accident.
"I’m sorry, Em," Miles whispered into the quiet room, his voice trembling with years of unexpressed regret. "I was a coward. I let my fear of failing make me blind to what really mattered. I thought if I built a fortress of money, nothing could ever hurt me again. But all I did was lock myself in a dark room without you."
He tightened his grip on her hand, leaning his forehead against her knuckles.
"I met Sophie," he continued softly. "She’s incredible, Emily. She’s strong, smart, and kind—just like you. She holds onto that teddy bear like it’s her anchor. I saw the blue thread you used on its ear. You kept it all these years... You never stopped loving me, even when I gave you every reason to hate me."
A soft sound echoed in the room—a faint, fluttering breath.
Miles froze. He lifted his head quickly.
The heart monitor’s rhythm quickened slightly. Emily’s eyelids trembled, her dark eyelashes flickering against her pale skin.
"Em?" Miles called out softly, his heart leaping into his throat. "Emily?"
Slowly, painfully, her eyes opened. They were unfocused at first, squinting against the soft yellow light of the room. She blinked several times, shifting her head slightly on the pillow.
When her gaze finally rested on Miles, a look of confusion swept over her face. She tried to speak, but her throat was dry, producing only a weak rasp.
Miles quickly poured a few drops of water onto a sponge swab and gently moistened her lips. "Don't try to speak too fast. You're in the hospital. You're safe."
Emily stared at him, her dark eyes filling with tears. She looked at his face, taking in the tired lines around his eyes, the unbuttoned collar of his shirt, and the desperate warmth in his expression.
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"Miles...?" she whispered, her voice barely a breath.
"I’m here, Em," he choked out, tears overflowing and spilling down his cheeks. "I’m right here."
