Chapter 90

No human being has ever stood so close to my soul as you stood.

-James Joyce.

|N I C O L A S|

I stood at the edge of the hospital bed, Zyra resting peacefully amidst the sterile surroundings.

Her dark hair spilled over the pillow, a cascade of untamed waves framing the serenity on her face. The lines of worry that had etched themselves into her features were softened, replaced by a newfound vitality. The transformation was as palpable as the anticipation in the room.

My gaze lingered on the subtle curve of her belly, evidence of the life growing within. The very thought of the tiny heartbeat beneath her skin fueled a fierce protectiveness within me.

Zyra's lashes cast delicate shadows on her cheeks, and the rise and fall of her breathing was a soothing rhythm. The beeping of the machines served as a background melody, a reminder of the fragility of life and the strength that could emerge from vulnerability.

Her hand, warm and delicate, reste