Chapter 32: The Collapse

Mary's vision blurred as her breathing became shallow. The pounding of her heart slowed to a heavy, irregular beat. Her body felt cold, and her limbs turned numb. The world around her began to fade, her surroundings dissolving into shadows. Summoning her last ounce of strength, she unlocked the door, a small act of hope buried deep in her subconscious. She collapsed onto the floor, the sound of her body hitting the ground echoing faintly in the silent room.

Mark, sitting in the living room, had noticed earlier that Mary seemed more withdrawn than usual. Something about her behavior left him uneasy. He had been lost in thought, debating whether to check on her, but a gut feeling he couldn't ignore made him leave the living room and head toward her bedroom.

As he opened the door, the sight before him sent a chill down his spine. Mary lay on the floor, motionless, her face pale and her lips slightly parted. Panic overtook him, and he rushed to her side, shaking her gently.

"Mary! Mary, wake up!" he cried, his voice trembling with fear. He shook her again, harder this time, but she didn't stir. Her body felt limp and lifeless under his touch. Tears welled up in his eyes as he screamed her name, his voice growing louder and more desperate.

The sound of Mark's shouts reached the living room, where their parents sat. Mr. David and Mrs. Emily exchanged alarmed glances before rushing toward the noise. When they entered the room, they froze at the sight of their daughter lying lifeless on the floor and Mark kneeling beside her, his face streaked with tears.

"Mary!" Mrs. Emily gasped, her voice breaking as she dropped to her knees beside her daughter. Mr. David didn't waste a second. He scooped Mary up into his arms, her body limp and unresponsive. The weight of her in his arms only intensified the fear gripping his heart.

"We're going to the hospital. Now!" he barked, his voice firm despite the panic evident in his eyes.

Mrs. Emily grabbed her phone and followed closely behind as Mr. David carried Mary out of the house. Mark trailed after them, his hands trembling and his breath coming in short gasps.

The drive to the hospital was a blur. Mr. David drove with one hand on the steering wheel, the other clutching Mary tightly against him. Mrs. Emily sat beside him, frantically calling the emergency number to alert the hospital of their arrival. Mark sat in the back, his eyes never leaving his sister.

"Stay with us, Mary," Mr. David muttered under his breath, his knuckles white as he gripped the wheel.

They reached the hospital within minutes, though it felt like hours. As soon as they arrived, a team of medical staff rushed to meet them. Mary was placed on a stretcher and wheeled into the emergency room, leaving her family standing in the hallway, helpless and terrified.

Mark collapsed into a chair, burying his face in his hands. He replayed the moment he had found Mary over and over in his mind, haunted by the image of her lifeless body. Mrs. Emily paced back and forth, her hands clasped tightly together, while Mr. David leaned against the wall, his face pale and drawn.

The waiting was agonizing. Every second felt like an eternity. The sight of the doctor approaching finally broke the suffocating silence.

"Your daughter is unstable for now, but it was a close call," the doctor said. "We managed to pump her stomach and administer treatment in time. She's still unconscious, but she's out of immediate danger."

Relief washed over them, though it was mixed with guilt and fear. They had come so close to losing Mary, and the thought was unbearable.

"She'll need time to recover, physically and emotionally," the doctor continued. "This wasn't just an accident. I suggest we take proper care of her and know the cause of this. She needs counseling and long-term support once she's stable enough to discuss it."We ran some tests on her and the result will be coming out soon.

As they were led to Mary's room, Mark silently vowed never to ignore his instincts again. He sat beside her bed, holding her hand, hoping that when she woke up, he could tell her how much she meant to him and how deeply he regretted not stepping in sooner.

Though they had saved her life, they knew the battle was far from over.