The nurses worked with practiced efficiency, adjusting Robert’s IV and checking his vitals. Annie watched, her heart pounding as they went through the motions, their professionalism both reassuring and unsettling.
“Just breathe,” one nurse said, her tone light. “You’re in good hands.”
Robert nodded, but Annie saw the tension in his shoulders. He gripped the bedrail tightly, knuckles whitening.
“Hey,” she said softly, moving closer. “You’re not alone in this.”
He looked at her, his eyes flashing a moment of thanks before he faced away again.
The nurses began to confer among themselves in hushed tones a stream of technical terms combined with optimistic reassurances that washed over Annie like so much background noise. She leaned nearer to Robert, needing to feel his warmth.
"You okay?" she whispered.
"I will be," he replied, though his voice wasn't quite there. The weariness was etched across his face, a reminder of what he still had to battle.
One nurse had finished preparing the machine and turned back to Robert, beaming. "Ready for some magic?"
The attempt for levity made Annie smile weakly. Robert smiled back more hesitantly.
"Let's do it," he said at last; the fire behind his eyes sparked with the will to do just that.
In those few words, pride welled up inside Annie. This man—she had leaped through time to save—wouldn't go down without a fight.
As treatment started, Robert winced slightly and steadied himself against the discomfort. The machine whirred into action, a symphony of beeps and whirs surrounding them as it started its magic.
Annie reached out and took his hand again, her fingers lacing into his. A jolt passed through her, a reminder that they were tethered in the moment because all was not lost.
"What's next?" he asked as he refocused his gaze on her face, away from the array of machines surrounding him.
"We wait," she said simply but added with an encouraging inflection, "and we fight."
Robert's eyes searched hers for reassurance; Annie held his gaze steady. They both knew that their future depended on these moments—each heartbeat echoing their shared resolve to overcome what lay ahead.
"Can you promise me something?" he asked suddenly, breaking their momentary silence.
"What is it?" She squeezed his hand tighter, prepared for whatever he might say next.
Robert’s gaze flickered between the machines and Annie’s face, searching for the strength to continue.
“Promise me,” he urged, his voice low but steady, “that no matter what happens, you’ll keep fighting for me.”
Annie nodded, her heart tugging. "I promise," she said, but a shadow of doubt crept into her mind. The weight of the ancient curse loomed over her like a dark cloud. Yet she couldn't let him see her fear.
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The soft beeping and the chirping of hustling nurses outside filled the air as the treatment wore on. Annie followed Robert closely, the change in his expression showing pain across his brow or an almost unnoticeful clench in his jaw—every slight gesture a reminder of how tender this moment actually was.
"Você está fazendo bem," she murmured once he shifted positions slightly in the bed. "Just keep breathing."
He met her gaze once more, a spark of determination firing up in him. "You've been through so much to be here," he said. "I don't want to let you down."
"You could never let me down," she said firmly. "Just focus on getting better."
His hand tightened around her fingers, an unsaid agreement hanging between them. They knew wordlessly, in a bond forged through trials and love.
After what felt like hours but had only been minutes, Robert turned his head slightly towards Annie. "What do you think this future holds for us?"
She hesitated for just a moment before responding. "Anything we want," she said softly, recalling the visions of their life together that danced in her mind—adventures in the future city, quiet evenings spent side by side.
A nurse stepped in to check on Robert’s vitals and offered them both a reassuring smile before exiting again.
“Let’s make plans then,” Robert said suddenly, determination lacing his tone once more.
“Plans?” Annie raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his sudden shift in energy.
“Yeah.” He took a deep breath as if gathering strength from within. “Once I’m out of here… Let’s travel this world together.”
The thought sent warmth flooding through Annie’s chest—a promise not just of survival but of living fully again.
“I’d love that,” she replied with genuine enthusiasm.
But as they exchanged hopeful smiles, a flicker of doubt gnawed at her insides—the curse still lingered at the edges of her mind like an unwelcome guest.
Annie leaned back in her chair, listening to Robert as his words really set in. The world of sterile walls and humming machinery was forgotten for just a moment, and in that short time, the world beyond their door opened up boundlessly into realms that invited adventure for both of them.
"Travel?" he asked through the exhaustion so palpable on his face. "Really?"
Absolutely," she said, a smile growing once more as it buoyed with his enthusiasm. "We are going to travel every inch.
His eyes shone with a mix of hope and mischief. "What if we find a way to fly one of those things?" He nodded toward the window, where some sleek vehicle zoomed by in the sky.
"Sure, why not?" Annie chuckled, enjoying the lightness of the moment. "I bet you'd be a really great pilot."
"I could give it a try," he said, his voice teasing but deadly serious underneath.
Just then, the door swung open again, revealing a doctor with a clipboard tucked under one arm. He entered with an air of authority, cutting through their shared reverie.
“Good news,” he said as he approached Robert’s bed. “Your vitals are stabilizing. We’re optimistic about your response to the treatment.”
Annie's heart lifted, but she kept her expression neutral as she turned to Robert. His brow furrowed slightly at the doctor's words, but he said nothing.
The doctor, oblivious to the silent tension between them, went on, "We'll monitor you closely over the next few hours and adjust your medication accordingly.
Robert nodded at every word. Annie caught his gaze and gave him an encouraging smile, wanting him to see that hope was still alive between them.
As the doctor finished his assessment and jotted down things on his clipboard, Robert turned back to Annie. "So what else do we want to do when I get out?
“Everything,” she replied earnestly. “I want us to dive into everything this future has to offer—food markets, concerts… even those holographic experiences I’ve read about.”
His eyes brightened again at her enthusiasm. “Let’s start planning our dream trip right now.”
A glimmer of determination sparked within him as he sat up slightly straighter in bed. Annie sensed his resolve growing stronger—a tangible shift from uncertainty to anticipation.
"You'll be up and about before you know it," she said softly, her fingers brushing against his hand.
Just then, another nurse appeared in the doorway.
"Robert," she called cheerfully, clipboard in hand. "Time for your next round of meds."
He let out a sigh but didn't struggle as she neared him with a syringe full of brilliant blue liquid.
Annie's stomach knotted as she watched Robert prepare for yet another round of treatment—the monotony of it all too keenly reminding her of what they fought against every day.
But as Robert looked at her one last time before turning back to the nurse, the spark in his eyes was pure determination—a silent promise that what was coming next they would face together.