She sat in the hallway with tears in her eyes. The sight hit Lucas harder than he expected because it reminded him of another hospital, another loss. Years earlier, he had sat in a similar hallway while doctors fought unsuccessfully to save his father. The memory rushed back with painful clarity.
The endless waiting, the helplessness, the fear, the silence afterward. Lucas had promised himself he would never forget what that felt like. And now Hannah was living through it. Without thinking, he took a step forward. Then another, then another. For 3 years, he had remained hidden. For 3 years, fear had kept him silent. But watching her suffer changed something.
He couldn’t stay in the shadows anymore. Not tonight. As he approached, Hannah looked up. Their eyes met. Confusion appeared immediately. She had seen him before many times, passing faces, coffee shops, sidewalks, background moments, but she couldn’t place him. “Can I help you?” she asked softly. Lucas stopped.
