Page 100 of Saddle and Bound

Chapter 66

Alex

The clock on the waiting room wall ticks like a hammer striking my skull. Each passing second is agony, a constant reminder that Rosie is in there, fighting for her life, while I remain here, powerless.

The hours drag on in a blur of coffee, uncomfortable chairs, and oppressive silence. Chris, Fran, and Diego are still here with me, silent presences offering comfort I can't feel. Occasionally they try to speak, but their words of encouragement slide off me like water on glass.

The sound of hurried footsteps breaks the waiting room's silence. I look up to see Robert, Rosie's father, enter with eyes full of fear and concern. Behind him, Maria and Aunt Tina, their faces pale and drawn. Ethan, Rosie's best friend, follows closely, looking lost and frightened.

"Alex," Robert's voice is hoarse, "what happened? How's my daughter?" I stand up, my legs trembling from exhaustion and anxiety. "We... we don't know yet," I answer, my voice barely a whisper. "The doctors haven't told us anything definitive."

Robert runs a hand over his face, anguish evident in every gesture. Maria places a hand on his shoulder, trying to offer comfort. Aunt Tina, for once, is silent, her usual humor swept away by the gravity of the situation. Ethan approaches me, his eyes glistening.

Val, Lexy, and Aurora arrive shortly after, joining the group in silence. Their faces are masks of worry and fear.

Max... I don't know where he is.

Aurora runs to embrace me the moment she sees me. I can see her concern as she squeezes me tight with her slender arms. She was only four when I became part of her family, and she welcomed me with the carefree joy that only children possess. Now she's grown. She's 24... but to Chris and me, she'll always be our little girl.

Despite us being ten years older, she's always been good at lifting our spirits and solving our problems. Unfortunately, there's not much she can do this time, but I appreciate her embrace.

"Big brother... Rosie will pull through. She's strong," she tells me, trying to hold me tighter. I let out a sob and lean on her shoulder. Chris joins us and wraps both of us in his strong, large arms. We stay like that for a while, silent and holding each other close, just like when we were children. Then Val joins us too.

Gradually, we all gather together, a family united by fear and hope. The silence is broken only by the ticking clock and occasional muffled sobs.

The hours pass, slow and painful. Every time the door opens, we all look up, hoping for news, for anything that might ease this terrible wait. But the silence persists.

My gaze wanders around the waiting room, but I can't really focus on anything. The faces around me are blurred, indistinct. I hear hushed voices, fragments of conversations I can't fully comprehend.

My world has narrowed to this: the waiting, the terror, and the constant thought of Rosie. I can't process anything else. The people around me might as well be ghosts for all I can interact with them. I'm trapped in a bubble of fear and anxiety, unable to reach or be reached.

I feel like I'm drowning. Each breath is a struggle. Every second without news is torture. The weight of guilt and fear threatens to crush me.

Rosie, I think, closing my eyes to hold back tears,please hold on. We all need you. I need you.

But the silence continues, relentless and cruel, as we wait for news that could change everything.

In my confused state, a movement catches my attention. It's Lexy. For a moment, her face hardens with an expression I can't fully decipher. Then, just as quickly, she catches herself and turns away.

I unconsciously follow her earlier line of sight and, across the waiting room, I see him. Max. He's leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, expression impassive. I hadn't noticed him before, lost as I was in my thoughts.

Max has never been one to offer comfort or openly show his emotions. He's always been more of a man of action, ready to step in when needed. Yet, as I watch him, I see something change in his gaze. For a brief moment, his mask of imperturbability seems to crack.

To my surprise, he pushes off from the wall and walks toward me. His stride is purposeful, his posture rigid. Max stops right in front of me. His eyes meet mine for a brief instant before dropping.

"Everything will be fine," he murmurs so quietly that only I can hear. "I contacted the best specialists. Had them flown here as quickly as possible."

His words hit me like a punch to the stomach. Not for their content, but for the simple fact that Max spoke them. Max isn't the type to solve situations and then let you know about it. He's never been like that.

I realize he's telling me this only to try to reassure me. It's a surprisingly kind gesture from him, so out of character that for a moment I don't know how to react.

"Thank you," I finally manage to whisper, my voice hoarse from hours of silence.

Max nods briefly, then moves to leave. Before turning completely, though, I notice his eyes dart quickly to a point behind me. I follow his gaze and see Lexy, now sitting with the other girls. It's such a quick, imperceptible movement that if I hadn't been paying attention, I would have surely missed it.

Chapter 67

Alex

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