Camille floated in a fog, voices drifting toward her from a great distance. They sounded muffled, as if she were underwater, struggling to swim toward the surface. A dull ache pulsed through her entire body, and she could feel the weight of fatigue pressing down on her. But the voices grew louder, more insistent, calling her back to consciousness.
“Camille? Camille, can you hear me?”
It was Noah’s voice—steady, comforting. She clung to it, letting it guide her out of the fog. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, her vision blurred, and a bright light made her squint. She blinked, struggling to make out her surroundings.
Shapes began to take form, and she recognized three familiar faces hovering close, their eyes filled with relief and worry. Noah was closest, his face pale and tense, his hand wrapped around hers. Next to him, Leo leaned forward, his expression serious but relieved. And Matthew, standing just behind them, had his hand on her shoulder, a steady presence anchoring her back to reality.
“Camille,” Noah murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “Thank goodness… you’re awake.”
She blinked, her vision gradually clearing. Her head felt heavy, and her body ached all over, but the sight of the three of them filled her with a faint sense of comfort. She managed a weak smile, her voice barely a whisper. “Noah… Leo… Matthew. You’re… you’re all okay?”
Leo nodded, his grin tinged with relief. “We’re fine, Camille. A bit shaken up, but… we’re here. We’re all here.” He reached out to gently brush a strand of hair from her face. “You had us worried there, you know.”
Camille’s eyes darted from one to the other, taking in the cuts and bruises on their faces, the signs of worry etched in their expressions. She swallowed, her throat dry and scratchy. “What… what happened? I remember… the car…”
Matthew squeezed her shoulder gently. “There was an accident, Camille. A car hit us from the side. You were knocked unconscious… but you’re going to be okay. The doctors have been keeping a close eye on you.”
Camille closed her eyes for a moment, trying to piece everything together. The flash of headlights, the deafening crash, the feeling of being tossed and thrown… it all felt so distant, like a half-remembered nightmare. She opened her eyes again, focusing on the warmth of Noah’s hand in hers.
“How long… how long have I been here?” she whispered.
“Just a day,” Noah replied softly, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. “You’ve been in and out. We’ve stayed with you the whole time.”
Camille took a shaky breath, her mind still foggy. She felt a pang of guilt, imagining the fear and worry they must have gone through. “I’m… I’m sorry. You must have been so worried.”
Leo shook his head, his voice gentle but firm. “No, Camille. Don’t you dare apologize. We’re just grateful you’re awake. We’re here for you, no matter what.”
Matthew leaned forward, his face serious but filled with warmth. “You’re our family, Camille. There’s nowhere else we’d rather be.”
She looked at each of them, her heart swelling with gratitude and love. The ache in her body faded slightly as their words washed over her, grounding her in the knowledge that they were there, that they had stayed with her through everything. She took another slow, steadying breath, trying to focus on their voices, their reassuring presence.
But as the fog of confusion began to lift, a strange sensation crept over her—a nagging feeling, an emptiness she couldn’t place. Her hand drifted instinctively to her belly, feeling the unfamiliar flatness beneath her fingertips. Her heart skipped a beat, a sudden rush of panic surging through her veins.
“Noah…” she murmured, her voice trembling as her fingers pressed against her stomach. “Where’s… where’s my baby?”
The words hung in the air, her question slicing through the room like a knife.