Eight Lives, One Heart

Eight Lives, One Heart 16 ❤️

As Alexis's eyes fluttered open, the sharp sting of pain shot through her body, making her gasp. She was aware of the hospital bed beneath her, the steady beeping of machines around her, but for a moment, she didn't understand where she was. Everything felt hazy, like a dream she couldn't quite escape from.

Then, as her senses began to return, she saw something—someone—by her side. It wasn't a doctor or a nurse. It was her dog, the one she had lost. His familiar brown eyes met hers, and for a moment, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. He was standing there, wagging his tail like everything was normal, like nothing had ever happened.

And then, she saw him—an angel. The light surrounding him was soft, almost comforting, and his figure was clear yet ethereal. He wasn't like anything Alexis had ever seen before, but there was something calming about him, something that made her feel safe even as the pain continued to pulse through her body.

The angel knelt beside her, his presence like a balm to her battered soul. He smiled gently, his eyes warm but wise. Alexis tried to speak, but her voice was weak, barely a whisper.

"Am I dead?" she managed to ask, her breath shallow.

The angel shook his head, his smile still present. "No, kid. It's not your time yet."

Alexis stared up at him, confusion and disbelief in her eyes. "But... I was... I was sure I was gone," she murmured, her memories of the night before starting to surface.

The angel nodded as if he understood. "Sometimes, the journey isn't finished when we think it is. You've got more to do, more to fight for, more to love."

Her dog nudged her gently with his nose, offering comfort in his own way, and Alexis reached out, her hand trembling as she touched the familiar fur of the dog she thought she'd lost forever.

"But I'm so tired," Alexis said, her voice barely audible. "I've been through so much, and I'm scared."

"I know," the angel replied, his tone soothing. "But you're strong, Alexis. You've always been. You've got people waiting for you, people who need you, who love you. You still have things to do here. That's why it's not your time."

Alexis looked at her dog one more time, his presence grounding her. Then she turned back to the angel, a faint sense of peace washing over her. "Will I be okay?" she asked softly, almost afraid of the answer.

"You will be," the angel said, his voice firm and reassuring. "But you have to go back now. There's more for you to do."

The warmth of his presence began to fade, and Alexis's heart sank. She didn't want to leave this peaceful place, the comfort of her dog and the angel's calming words. But she knew deep down that he was right. Her journey wasn't over. There was still so much she had yet to do.

Before she could say anything more, the angel's figure began to dissolve into the light, and she felt herself being pulled back. The sounds of the hospital, the steady beeping of machines, and the soft murmur of voices filled her senses once again. She wanted to resist, to stay in that calm place, but the pull was too strong.

With a final glance at her dog, who gave her one last loving look before he faded away, Alexis closed her eyes again, feeling the warmth of the angel's words echoing in her heart.

It wasn't her time. Not yet . Mark walked into Alexis's room, his face grim as he checked the machines around her, making sure everything was still functioning properly. He had just finished updating her chart when his eyes fell on her face. Her breathing was steady, but there was something about her expression—something subtle—that made his heart skip a beat.