"The human heart is not merely a mechanical pump; it is a ledger of trauma."

Clara Hayes's voice, steady and resonant, echoed through the grand, vaulted auditorium of the Geneva Medical Institute. Behind her, a massive digital screen illuminated the darkened hall with her latest medical illustrati

The sound of Julian’s weeping was the only noise in the cavernous hall, a wretched, wet sound that reverberated off the acoustic panels. He remained on his knees, his forehead pressed against the edge of the stage, his fingers digging into the hardwood as if he were trying to claw his way into the e

Julian’s breath hitched, the sound loud and jagged in the cavernous, empty auditorium. He stared up at her from his knees, his hands still trembling where they gripped the edge of the stage.

"You didn't die," Julian choked out, tears finally spilling over his hollow cheeks, tracking through the pr