Clair pushed the door to Anabella's hospital room open, and her gaze immediately softened when she saw her friend lying on the small, sterile bed. Anabella's face was pale, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm that suggested she was fast asleep. Noah followed Clair inside, closing the door quietly behind him.
Neither spoke as they moved closer to Anabella's bed, their earlier urgency melting into quiet concern. Clair pulled a chair close, sitting down carefully, her sharp eyes scanning Anabella's face for any sign of distress. Noah remained standing, his tall frame looming protectively as he leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest.
Anabella lay still, her eyes closed, but her heart pounded in her chest. She wasn't actually asleep. The moment she'd heard the door creak open, she'd instinctively kept her eyes shut, feigning rest. Now, with Clair and Noah so close, she felt trapped, a wave of anxiety tightening her muscles.
