A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Calliope was out of options. If there were any, she sure as hell wouldn't be standing there in silence.

Lance knew her if she had a plan, she'd be the first to tell him. She was the Miracle Doctor, after all. She'd fixed things before that no one else could.

If she was quiet now, it only meant one thing-she truly had no idea what to do.

"I'm sorry. I'm doing everything I can to figure something out. But... I think Hudson already told you. His situation is really complicated. It's moving so fast. I've never seen anything like it. The tumors are everywhere. It's... it's bad. Some of them are in places you just can't touch. If they were in better spots, maybe surgery would be an option. But where they are now, trying to operate could just make things worse."

Guilt flickered across her face. Calliope wished she were better-wished she could just snap her fingers and fix it. But she couldn't.

"There's nothing else you can do?" Lance's voice trembled as he stared at her, desperate. "You're the Miracle Doctor, right? Aren't you supposed to have those... those insane treatments? Like, you brought people back from the brink before! Hudson's still here, he looks fine, doesn't he? You have a way, right? Callie, tell me you have a way-please, you have to!"

He grabbed her arms, holding on so tight it hurt.

away. She

now... I've got nothing. But I'll keep trying,

have to be strong for him, okay? If if there really isn't any hope, then these are your last days together. You need to think

miracle, you have to ask yourself how you'll live with no regrets. Hudson's doing what

But if Hudson was really leaving, then Lance needed to be ready.

Hudson, for his part, was calm. He patted Lance on the shoulder, giving him a crooked smile. "I've already made my peace with this.

ahead to scout the trail. Everybody dies someday. I'm just getting a head start. I'll be waiting for you somewhere down

want to go-God, he didn't. But he tried to

swear," Calliope said quietly. "But

just take tonight to rest. Really think

back to Hudson, shaking his head even harder. "You

if you die,