In the hushed room, as Liam bared his soul, he caught a faint shadow of movement. He told himself it was a figment of emotion, perhaps a trick of his teary eyes. But when he plunged back into his story, there it was again — that faint stir. He blinked rapidly, clearing the mist from his eyes, trying to trust his own senses. And then, as the haze lifted, a whisper of hope tickled his mind — a hope he had suppressed for a decade…
Liam’s heart raced, disbelief flooding his every thought. Was this really happening? Panic and hope tangled within him, leaving him paralyzed for a moment. Should he call out to his parents, who were just across the room, unaware of this miracle unfolding? Or should he maybe get a nurse? And above all, he feared startling Oliver — would speaking too loudly or acting too hastily disrupt this fragile moment of reawakening?