一觉醒来，天已大亮。

拨开覆盖在脸上的青丝，怀中的玉人还在沉睡。

我wokeuptothewarmraysofsunlightpeekingthroughthecurtains,illuminatingtheserenelandscapeoutsidemywindow.Thegentlebreezecarriedthesweetscentofbloomingflowers,andIcouldn‘thelpbutfeelasenseofpeacewashoverme.ButasIturnedtogazeatthepersonbesideme,myheartskippedabeat.

Mywife,LingXi,laymotionlessinmyarms,herpaleskinalmosttranslucentinthemorninglight.Herchestroseandfellwitheachslowbreath,andIcouldseethefaintpulseoflifebeatingwithinher.Ifeltasurgeofloveandprotectivenesstowardsher,andmyinstinctskickedintohighgear.

AsIcarefullyexaminedherface,Inoticedthatherskinwasdeathlypale,andherlipswerepressedtogetherinathinline.Hereyes,usuallybrightandfulloflife,weresunkenanddark,asifthey‘dlosttheirsparkle.Myheartsank,andIfeltachillrundownmyspine.

“LingXi,“Iwhispered,tryingtorouseherfromherslumber.“LingXi,wakeup.“

Shedidn‘tstir,soIgentlypriedopenhereyelidswithmythumbs,coaxinghertorespond.Hereyesflutteredopen,buttheywereunfocusedandglassy,liketwoemptypoolsofwater.Iknewthatlookalltoowell?itwasthesameexpressionsheworewhenshewasinadeepcoma.

Iquicklyscannedourroom,ensuringwewerealonebeforeleapingoutofbedandrushingtofetchhermedicalrecords.Mymindwasracingwithquestions:Whathadhappenedtoher?Whydidshelooksoweakandfragile?AndwhatcouldIdotohelpher?

Aftergrabbingherchart,Icalledforthehospital‘semergencyresponseteam,instructingthemtosendateamoverimmediately.AsIwaitedfortheirarrival,IcradledLingXiinmyarms,tryingtokeephercalmandreassureherthateverythingwouldbeokay.

Thenextfewhourspassedinablurasthemedicalstaffworkedtirelesslytostabilizehercondition.Theyrancountlesstests,checkedhervitalsigns,andinjectedvariousmedicationsintohersystem.Butnomatterwhattheydid,sheremainedunresponsive,herlifehangingprecariouslyinthebalance.

Astheminutestickedby,Icouldn‘tshakeoffthefeelingofdesperationthathadsettledinmychest.Whatifshedidn‘tmakeit?Whatifthiswasgoodbyeforgood?

JustasIwasstartingtolosehope,thehospital‘sdirector,Dr.Zhang,burstintoourroom,lookingeveryinchtheharriedadministratorhewas.

“What‘sthelatest?“Iasked,tryingtokeepmyvoicesteady.

“Notgood,“Dr.Zhangrepliedgrimly,hiseyesscanningLingXi‘schartbeforemeetingmine.“Herheartrateisstilltoolow,andherbrainwavesareinacomastate.We‘redoingeverythingwecan,but...I‘mafraidtheprognosisisn‘tlookingpromising.“

Myheartsankfurther,asifithadalreadyhitrockbottom.IfeltlikeIwasdrowningindespair,unabletobreatheorthinkstraight.

“Isthereanythingelsewecando?“Iasked,myvoicecrackingwithdesperation.

Dr.Zhanghesitatedbeforespeakingup.“We‘rerunningoutofoptions.We‘vetriedeverypossibletreatment,but...there‘sonemorethingwecantry.“

Ifeltaglimmerofhopesparkwithinme.“Whatisit?“

Dr.Zhangtookadeepbreath.“Wecanperformanexperimentalproceduretostimulateherbrainactivity.It‘salongshot,andtherearerisksinvolved,but...itmightjustbeworthit.“

Withouthesitation,Inoddedmyagreement.“Let‘sdoit.“