I felt a sharp pain in my chest.

I pushed the door open quietly and stepped into the sterile room.

The only sound was the steady, rhythmic beep of the heart monitor.

Claire lay in the center of the bed, looking smaller and paler than ever.

Her dark hair was spread across the white pillow.

Her eyes were half-open, staring blankly at the ceiling.

I walked to the side of the bed and stood there, the blue envelope heavy in my hand.

“Claire,” I whispered.

Her head turned slowly toward me, her eyes struggling to focus.

When she saw me, her body tensed, and the heart monitor began to beep faster.

“Daniel,” she croaked, her voice barely a whisper.

“It’s okay,” I said, reaching out a hand but stopping before I touched her. “You’re safe.”

Her gaze fell to the blue envelope in my hand.

She closed her eyes, and a single tear escaped, rolling down her temple.

“You found them,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“I found them,” I said, sitting in the plastic chair beside her bed.