Ella's POV:
The antiseptic smell of the hospital lingered in the air, and I wrinkled my nose as I walked through the familiar halls. Hospitals always made me feel uneasy, but seeing Kate awake and smiling was a balm against the anxiety I carried. I clutched the small bouquet of white lilies I'd picked up, their soft petals brushing against my fingers as I turned the corner to her room.
