When Love Comes Late by PASSION

Cordell hesitated, the silence weighing heavily in the room before he finally responded, his tone honest yet somber.

Theres a fifty-fifty chance of success.

But as it stands, the surgery is unavoidable.

If the blood clot continues to press on the nerves, it will endanger Matthews life sooner rather than later.

The color drained further from Stellas face as the gravity of the situation settled in.

Still, she refused to give up.

Isnt there any other way? Medication or something? Does it have to be surgery? Cordell shook his head, a look of helplessness in his eyes.

His voice was grave as he replied, Unfortunately, theres no alternative.

Right now, surgery is the only solution we have.

Stella suddenly felt adrift, as though she had been cast into an endless abyss of despair.

Deep down, she couldnt deny that part of her longed for Matthew to regain his memory, to return to the way things were before. But in this moment, more than anything, all she wished for was his survival-for him to live and thrive.

left her with

suffocating helplessness threatened to shatter her

never been one to indulge in sentimentality or shed tears easily, yet this time, she felt them building, ready

silent, as if grappling

looked at Cordell and said firmly, Cordell, arrange the surgery and the

Matthews arm as she pleaded desperately, No! If

The painful.

loved ones surged through her, an unbearable tide of

stand the thought of losing another

to her, his gaze gentle

he said with

I wont die.

came to him, but once spoken, they

froze, her mind clouded by his steady gaze and the weight of his words,

Matthews lips curled into a faint

added softly, Trust

not so easy

have so much

the man sitting beside her, familiar and yet

felt as though time had rewound to