The doctor's words brought relief.
But only for a moment.
Because he had also said something else.
"The next 24 hours are important."
And those 24 hours…
Felt like the longest time of their lives.
Jay was moved to the ICU.
Machines surrounded her bed.
Monitors beeped softly.
Tubes and bandages covered parts of her body.
The doctors didn't allow many visitors.
Only one person at a time.
But Keifer refused to leave.
He sat outside the ICU door.
Exactly like he had done outside the OT.
Still not eating.
Still not sleeping.
Just staring at the glass window.
Watching her.
The girl who always ran around happily.
Now lying still on the hospital bed.
It broke something inside him every time he looked.
Ella tried again.
"Keifer… eat something."
He didn't respond.
Freya held a sandwich in front of him.
"Please."
Keifer shook his head slowly.
Rakki sighed loudly.
"You're not helping anyone like this."
Still nothing.
Grace finally spoke softly.
"Jay will be angry if she sees you like this."
That made him look up.
But only for a second.
Then his eyes went back to the ICU window.
"She needs to wake up first."
His voice sounded empty.
Hours passed slowly.
Every beep of the monitor made their hearts jump.
Every time a nurse entered the ICU…
Everyone stood up anxiously.
But the nurses would only say the same thing.
"She is stable."
"Still unconscious."
"Please wait."
Late at night the hospital became quieter.
Most lights were dimmed.
But the gang was still there.
Freya was leaning on Percy's shoulder.
Grace had fallen asleep on a chair.
Rakki was pacing back and forth restlessly.
Ella sat beside Keifer quietly.
She looked at him.
His eyes were still open.
Still staring at Jay.
"You haven't blinked in five minutes."
Keifer whispered softly,
"What if she stops breathing?"
Ella's chest hurt hearing that.
"She won't."
Keifer shook his head.
His voice trembling.
"I saw the knife go in."
His hands clenched tightly.
"I saw her blood."
Ella didn't know what to say.
So she just sat there with him.
Morning slowly arrived.
Sunlight entered the hospital corridors again.
The 24 hours were almost over.
But those hours had been torture for everyone.
Because no one knew when Jay would wake up.
Or if she would wake up at all.
And through it all…
Keifer stayed there like a mad man.
Watching.
Waiting.
Hoping.
For the moment when the girl who changed his entire life…
Would finally open her eyes again. 💔➡️💙