Charles stepped quietly into the sterile room, his eyes immediately drawn to the figure lying in the bed—Charmaine, his baby sister, though now nearly grown.
The white hospital sheets seemed to swallow her frail form, her skin pale against the backdrop of monitors softly beeping in rhythm with her breath.
Her hair, which once tumbled in thick, golden waves, now rested thinner on her pillow, but when she turned to him, her smile was as bright as ever.
"Hey, Char," he greeted softly, pulling a chair next to her bed. He tried to mask the heaviness in his heart, offering her a grin as if this visit was just like any other.
"Charles," she replied, her voice thin but teasing. "You look like you haven't slept for days."
He laughed softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Probably because I haven't. Someone's gotta keep an eye on you."
