Clara’s POV

The phone’s ring echoed through the hospital room like a dull blade, sawing at my nerves one notch at a time. Aaron’s name glowed on the screen; my hand shook as I hit dial, heart pounding like a war drum. Pick up… please pick up! But three rings, then dead air—rejected. Again! My knuckles whitened, the phone slipping from my grip, cracking against the nightstand with a sharp snap. The world shattered in that instant; I screamed, voice ripping like a beast’s howl: ...