"Surgery?" Bianca echoed, her voice trembling.
"I know it sounds overwhelming," Adrian said gently, his eyes meeting hers. "But we'll do everything we can to avoid that outcome. For now, we'll place a nasogastric tube to relieve pressure in your stomach and keep you on IV fluids to rest your bowel."
Bianca bit her lip, fighting back tears. The thought of staying in the hospital longer...and the possibility of surgery...felt like too much to bear.
"Hey," Adrian said softly, leaning in closer. "I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but we'll take this one step at a time. You're not alone in this."
His words, coupled with the steady warmth of his gaze, melted some of her fear. She nodded slowly, her fingers gripping the edge of the blanket.
Abby, ever the protector, spoke up. "So how long are we talking here? Days? Weeks?"
