Alexei’s POV

A week had passed since I rushed Novel’s limp body to the hospital. A week of living in a nightmare. The envelopes never stopped coming, each day, a new set of photos arrived, haunting me with images of a life she couldn't remember. My mother and Maya took turns sitting by her side, but every time I stepped into that sterile room, I felt another piece of my heart shatter.

I sat in the chair beside her bed, my fingers interlaced with hers. I didn't care about the wires or the rhythmic, soul-crushing beep of the heart monitor.

“Please, Novel... wake up,” I whispered, my voice breaking.

“I...