17.Unwanted family member visit

IN A LATE EVENING

XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:

The first thing I noticed was the weight in my chest not pain exactly, but a dull pressure, like someone had set a book there and walked away. My eyelids felt heavy, but I forced them open, squinting against the soft overhead light. The beeping of monitors filled the room, steady and rhythmic, like a mechanical heartbeat.

"Welcome back, Xavier." A familiar voice said, calm and steady.

I turned my head, though it felt like moving through molasses. Terrence was sitting in a chair beside the bed, his white coat rumpled, and a tired but satisfied smile on his face.

"Terrence." I croaked, my voice barely above a whisper. My throat felt raw, like I’d swallowed sandpaper.

He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. "You did great. The ICD’s in plac……