Fifteen

The sterile white walls of the hospital room felt like a mockery of their situation. The relief of Matthew being alive was swiftly replaced by a chilling dread that permeated Melody's every thought. Two years. It was a cruel joke. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor, a once comforting lullaby, now echoed a relentless countdown, a stark reminder of the borrowed time clinging to them like a shroud.

Mathew was still pale but with a hint of his usual spirit returning. He avoided her gaze. Shame radiated from him, a tangible aura in the confined space.

Melody broke the silence, her voice tight but determined. "Mathew, we need to talk."It wasn't a request, it was a command, a plea for honesty in the face of their harsh reality.

He met her eyes, the vulnerability in them pulling at her heartstrings. It was a vulnerability she hadn't seen since they were kids, building forts out of blankets and dreaming of a future that stretched endlessly before them.