@2

-------have a greate life------

The operation was a tense, silent ballet of precision and hope. Duck's eyes never left the monitors, watching the erratic lines dance and spike as he connected the device to Max's unresponsive form. The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. And then, something incredible happened.

The heart monitor's steady beep grew stronger, more insistent. Max's chest rose and fell with a sudden urgency. The lines on the EEG monitor grew erratic before settling into a pattern that was unmistakably alive. Duck's breath hitched in his throat as he saw the first flicker of movement in Max's eyelids. The boy's hand twitched, then reached out, grasping for something, for anything, to anchor him to the world of the conscious.

"Max?" Duck's voice was a tremulous whisper, his eyes never leaving his friend's face. "Max, can you hear me?"

The room air has charged with anticipation. The other friends, who had been eavesdropping from the shadows, held their collective breaths as the hand that had been lying so still tightened around Duck's. Max's eyes fluttered open, revealing a gaze that was both familiar and distant, as if he were looking through a foggy window.

"Duck?" His voice was weak, a mere thread of sound that seemed to carry the weight of years.

Duck's eyes filled with tears as Max's gaze finally focused on him. He nodded, a relieved smile breaking out across his face. "Yeah, it's me, buddy." He gently squeezed Max's hand, feeling the warmth of life pulsing through it. "You're back."

The room erupted into chaos as the others rushed forward, their voices a cacophony of shock and joy. Nurses and doctors flooded in, their expressions a mix of disbelief and excitement. Questions bombarded Duck from all sides, but he ignored them, his eyes never leaving Max's.

"What did you do?" Max's voice was a raspy whisper, filled with wonder and a hint of fear.

"I... I found a way to help you," Duck replied, his own voice thick with emotion. He didn't dare explain the full extent of his intervention, not yet. The reality was too fantastical, too risky.

Max searched his friend's eyes, the confusion clear in his gaze. "What do you mean?"

Duck took a deep breath, bracing himself for the truth. "Remember the accident, Max? You've been in a coma. But I never gave up on you. I've been working on a way to wake you up."

Max's eyes grew wide as the memories flooded back, the horror of the moment when the world had gone dark. He tried to sit up, but his body protested with a groan. The realization of his long slumber sank in, and the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on his chest.

Duck's grip on his hand tightened, offering silent reassurance. The other friends hovered around the bed, a mix of tears and smiles on their faces. Max's mother, who had been notified of the sudden change, rushed into the room, her eyes red from years of crying. She took in the scene, her gaze lingering on the device that had brought her son back to her.

------see you again--------

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***