Chapter Forty-eight

Damien slowly opened his eyes, squinting against the intense light flooding the room. Overwhelmed, he shut them again, shielding his vision from the blinding brightness. With a feeble attempt, he tried to shift on the bed, but his body felt unnaturally weak, as if all his strength had evaporated. Summoning his determination, Damien mustered the courage to open his eyes once more, this time adjusting to the light. As his gaze wandered, he saw two women slumbering in chairs beside his bed. It was his mother, Mrs. Winston, and his wife, Brenda.

A surge of recognition flooded Damien’s senses, and his heart swelled with relief and affection. They had been by his side all this time, keeping a vigil while he lay in his comatose state. He attempted to sit up, longing to reach out to them, but his weakened body thwarted his efforts. Frustrated, he tried to call out to his mother, but the muffled sound only emerged through the pipe inserted in his mouth. Mrs. Winston, startled from her sleep, q