Unspoken Confessions

Ricardo's lips curved into a faint smile. "I'm still here," he murmured. "Thanks to all of you. And your prayers."

Elena wiped her tears, her hands still clutching his arm as if afraid to let go. "We've been praying every moment, Ricardo. I thought… I thought I'd lost you."

"You'll never lose me," Ricardo said softly, his voice hoarse but filled with conviction. He glanced at Zinnia again, his expression softening. "And you, my brave girl. You've grown so much. I'm so proud of you."

Zinnia bit her lip, fighting back a fresh wave of tears. "You don't have to say that, Dad. Just focus on getting better, okay?"

The doctor interrupted then, her tone professional yet kind. "Mr. Lopez, you've made remarkable progress, but we still need to monitor you closely. For now, rest is your best medicine. No more talking for a while."