Ethan sat in a wheelchair near the foot of the bed. Both legs were heavily braced and marked with surgical incisions, but the color had returned to his face.
Dr. Marcus Vance stood beside him, studying an X-ray on his tablet.
“The second surgery was a complete success, Ethan,” Marcus said, looking up with a warm smile. “The bone fragments are cleared, the quadriceps tendons are reattached, and the synthetic knee caps are holding perfectly. It’s going to be a long road—six months of intensive physical therapy, a lot of hard work—but you will walk. And if you put the work in, you’ll be back on the court for your senior year.”
Laura released a tearful sob and pulled her son into a tight embrace. Ethan grinned, wiping a stray tear from his cheek before looking toward his father, who stood quietly near the door.
“Dad,” Ethan called softly.
