Bring Back to Life

Zinnia, her hands shaking, stepped forward and gently wrapped her arm around her mother's shoulders, pulling her back. She whispered softly, her voice breaking, "Mom, we need to let them help Dad. Please, we have to give them space."

Elena collapsed into her arms, her sobs shaking her small frame. "Zinnia, he can't leave us. He can't—he's everything to me. Please, don't take him from me," she begged, her voice desperate, full of sorrow.

Zinnia fought the tears that threatened to spill. She didn't know how to comfort her mother in this moment, how to make her believe that everything would be okay. "He won't leave, Mom," Zinnia whispered, her voice thick with unshed tears. "He's strong. He's going to pull through, I know it."

But even as she said the words, she wasn't sure if she believed them herself.