“Who taught you that?” he asked.
Nora’s hands trembled slightly as memories returned.
She saw again a dim clinic hallway and her mother crying.
She heard the words that her brother had died because he arrived too late.
Later, a retired doctor had told her about cases where minutes could change everything.
“Sometimes people do not try the same way,” he had said.
Since then, Nora had become invisible inside hospitals.
She listened, learned, and memorized everything she could.
“Life taught me,” she answered softly.
The doctor took a deep breath and made a decision.
“Reconnect the monitor now,” he ordered.
Everyone turned toward him.
“Doctor,” someone hesitated.
“I said reconnect it now,” he repeated.
The nurse obeyed and placed the sensor again.
Seconds passed with no response.
Lillian closed her eyes as pain returned.
Jonathan clenched his fists tightly.
Nora did not stop and continued stimulating the baby.
“Please do not leave,” she whispered.
Then the monitor made a faint sound.
Another sound followed.
Then another.
Weak and irregular, but real.
“There is a heart rate,” the resident said in shock.
Lillian cried deeply.
Jonathan stepped forward but stopped himself.
The doctor listened with a stethoscope.