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Eli stood shaking in the corner, his arms wrapped around himself, water dripping from his clothes onto the floor.
No one knew what to do with him.
Daniel Hargreave walked toward the boy. Up close, Eli looked even younger—dirt under his nails, old scars on his arms, fear in his eyes.
“You saved my son,” Daniel said, his voice breaking.
“I just didn’t want him to die,” Eli whispered.
The doctors pulled Daniel aside. They spoke in low voices.
“What the boy did shouldn’t have worked. There’s no medical explanation.”
But the child had responded.
They ran the scans again.
Noah’s brain activity had changed. Not healed, but waking.
The doctors had no words.
Eli sat alone in a chair, his stomach growling. A nurse brought him food. He ate slowly, as if it might disappear if he hurried.
Later that night, Daniel returned.
“Where is your family?” he asked gently.
Eli looked down.
“My mom died,” he said. “My sister too. I ran away after that.”