I didn't choose her, my heart did

The continue

Keira's POV:

The doctor's words echoed in my head like an echo I could not escape. 'A serious infection.' As if Lucy's body had not endured enough already, this was added to it. I felt my breath stop, my chest cramping.

'What exactly do you mean?' I asked with difficulty. My voice was barely more than a whisper.

The doctor remained calm, but his eyes reflected a seriousness I could not ignore. 'We found elevated markers in her blood that could indicate infection. It can be explained by the injuries she has sustained, but it also means we need to act immediately. If it is left untreated...'

He did not need to finish his sentence. I nodded, as my eyes stung with rising tears. 'What happens now?'

'We are going to examine her further and start antibiotics,' he explained. 'But if we don't see any improvement within the next 24 hours, we may have to operate to prevent the infection from spreading.'

Surgery? The very word made my stomach turn. 'I just want her to be safe,' I said quickly. 'Do whatever it takes.'

The doctor nodded and walked away. I was left behind, my mind a jumble of fear and hope.

_

I walked in and saw Lucy lying there, her face pale and resting. She seemed so vulnerable, so fragile, as if any sound could throw her off balance. But even in her weakness, she radiated a kind of strength that had always attracted me.

I sat down next to her and gently took her hand. 'Lucy,' I whispered. 'I know you can do this. You are the strongest person I know, and I know you will fight.'

Her fingers moved very slightly, as if she heard me. I swallowed away a lump in my throat and leaned closer to her. 'I'm here, okay? I'm not going anywhere.'

_

Later that evening, George came in. He looked exhausted, but there was also a determined look in his eyes. He sat down on the other side of Lucy's bed and looked at her, his face softening.

'She's always been like this, you know,' he said softly.

I looked at him questioningly.

'Lucy,' he continued. 'She has always fought, against everything and everyone if she had to. When we were young, she always protected me, even when it caused trouble for her. She would never give up.'

I felt a small smile emerge despite everything. 'That sounds exactly like her.'

George looked at me, his gaze piercing. 'What about you, Keira? How are you holding up?'

The question overwhelmed me, and I didn't know how to answer. 'I... I don't know,' I admitted honestly. 'I just want her to get better.'

George nodded slowly. 'She loves you, I'm sure. And you're here for her now. That's all she needs.'

_

The night crawled by. I couldn't close my eyes. Every beep from the monitors, every movement of Lucy's chest kept me alert. The uncertainty gnawed at me. What if the antibiotics didn't work? What if surgery was really needed?

I stayed by her side, my head resting on the edge of her bed. At one point, I felt something on my head, a light pressure. I looked up and saw that Lucy's eyes were half open. Her fingers had weakly slid into my hair.

"Kei..." Her voice was hoarse and barely audible.

I jumped up, my heart pounding with relief and concern. "Lucy, you're awake," I whispered, holding her hand tightly.

She smiled weakly. "What... what are you doing here so late?"

I laughed through my tears. "Where else would I be?"

She squeezed my hand gently, her eyes heavy with fatigue. "Thank you," she whispered before her eyes fell shut again.

_

The next morning, the doctor came in with a serious face. "The antibiotics seem to be working," he said, and I immediately felt a wave of relief. "But she is not out of the woods yet. Her body needs time to recover, and we need to keep a close eye on her."

I nodded. "What can I do?"

"Keep supporting her, as you already are," he said simply.

I stayed by Lucy's bedside, her hand in mine. She was still weak, but the thought that the antibiotics were working gave me hope.

_

Towards evening, Lucy's breathing seemed to be getting harder. The monitors started beeping faster, and a nurse rushed in.

"What's happening?" I asked in a panic.

"She's having trouble breathing," the nurse said while checking Lucy's ventilators. "I'll get the doctor."

I looked at Lucy, her face parted in a slight grimace. My heart broke. How much more did she have to endure?

The doctor came in and checked the situation. "We need to examine her lungs further," he said. "It may be that the infection has spread."

My whole body froze. "What does that mean?"

"We're considering a procedure to clear her airways," he said. "But it's risky."

Risky. The word made me dizzy. I looked at Lucy, who seemed silent now, as if she was surrendering to the moment.

"Do what you have to do," I finally said.

_

I waited in the hallway while the doctors did their work. The minutes felt like hours, and the silence was unbearable. Ella stood next to me, her face worried.

"She is strong," she said, as if she could read my thoughts.

I nodded, but the fear wouldn't let me go. When the door finally opened, the doctor came out with a serious expression.

"We have stabilized her condition," he began. "But there is something we did not notice before."

I felt my stomach tighten. "What do you mean?"

He looked at me, his voice soft but tense. "We found something in her lungs that requires further investigation. It could be nothing, but it could also..."

My breath caught. "What? What could it be?"

The doctor hesitated. "It could be a scar from the injuries... or it could indicate something more serious. We need to run more tests."

My whole world seemed to wobble again. How much more could Lucy endure? And what did this mean for her future?