The wheels of the stretcher bed moved swiftly through the dimly lit corridors, taking her away from him. As her hands slipped from his grasp, he felt an icy pang of fear. The doors of the surgery room closed with a definitive click, separating him from her. Outside, Finn and James waited, the gravity of the situation hanging heavy in the air.
Finn was urgently directing the hospital staff, his voice strained with concern, while James sat silently beside Leon, whose eyes were glued to the flickering red sign above the surgery room. The clock struck midnight, a solitary reminder of the time slipping away without them. Leon's hands were clenched together, desperately praying for a miracle, each second feeling like an eternity.
"James… it's already past midnight. The surgery could last hours. We need to conserve our energy," Finn said, his voice barely a whisper, filled with an urgent heaviness. Their eyes met and understood the need for action. Finn glanced toward Leon, knowing that if they didn't intervene, he would crumble under the weight of his grief.
"Let Leon stay here; he won't leave her side. I'll wait here. You go get him something to eat from the cafeteria," Finn instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument. Even in the chaos, he could see the cracks in Leon's resolve; he was teetering on the brink, too close to falling apart.
Finn approached Leon, tentatively placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. Leon leaned into him, wrapping his arms around Finn, his grip weak and trembling—a hollow shell of the strong man he once was.
"Finn… will Mira be okay? Please tell me she'll be okay," his voice was broken, full of raw vulnerability.
"Leon… she will be. We have the best doctors at Ravengrade," Finn replied, trying to inject a sliver of hope into the dark chasm of despair that engulfed his friend.
"Finn… why… why would she do this? Everything was finally looking up… Mumu… she was so happy. Why would she choose this path?" Leon's voice broke as he leaned against Finn, the tears he'd been holding back spilling over. In the chaos of emotions, the question hung in the air, heavy and unanswerable.
"When she wakes up, you can ask her. Just scold her when she does," Finn reassured, desperately trying to keep Leon anchored to any semblance of hope.
Just then, James returned, the weariness etched into his face. "Leon, you really need to eat something. You're pale… you look terrible." Finn took a food pack from James, offering it to Leon with a pleading stare.
But Leon shook his head, his eyes haunted, refusing to take even a bite. The desperation was palpable, and Finn understood he needed to break through that stubborn façade. "Leon… please. Just a small bite, for her sake," he pleaded, practically forcing the food into Leon's hands.
But Leon's pain was palpable, and the thought of eating felt insignificant against the backdrop of his love fighting for survival. The three of them stood there, bound together by grief, hope, and worry.