A vegetative state?
The moment those words registered, Kylie felt as if an invisible hand had clenched around her heart, constricting her breath.
Her face turned deathly pale.
How could this have happened?
She knew exactly what it meant.
A vegetative state meant that a person could breathe on their own. Their pulse, blood pressure, and body temperature would all be stable. But they had no awareness, no cognitive function, and couldn't talk.
It was as if they were already gone. No recognition, no voluntary movement—just an empty shell.
"In recent years, the chances of waking up from a vegetative state have increased," Sebastian said in a calm but serious voice. "Most experts in the medical field now agree that someone has to be unconscious for over 12 months before they can officially be classified as vegetative.
"We don't know when he'll wake up, but don't lose hope just yet."
Kylie stood frozen in place. She still couldn't wrap her mind around it.
Just a moment ago, they'd been laughing together, and everything had been fine.
Everything was supposed to be fine...
"Have you contacted his family?" Sebastian shifted the conversation. After all, there was no way they could keep something this big a secret.
Kylie shook her head. "No. I don't have his parents' contact information." As she spoke, her eyes darted around as if searching for something.
"His phone is here." Sebastian reached for the pile of bloodstained clothes beside the operating table and pulled out a phone before handing it to Kylie.
The screen was shattered, but the phone still worked.
Kylie pressed the power button.
The screen lit up, but it required either a fingerprint or a passcode to unlock.
Owen's lockscreen wallpaper was a waterfall at Starlight Summit. It was a breathtakingly beautiful scene. They used to go there all the time.
Instead of using Owen's finger to unlock it, she hesitated and tried entering a passcode first.
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