The laughter filled the kitchen as Addison, Violet, Pete, Naomi, Sam, Cooper, and Charlotte walked in, drinks in hand and smiles on their faces. They had just wrapped up a long shift, the exhaustion fading into the joy of unwinding together. But all that changed in an instant.

You were slumped against the counter, the empty pill bottle beside you, your body lifeless. The room went still. The air shifted from light-hearted chatter to the cold weight of panic.

Addison was the first to move, her eyes wide as she dropped the bottle of wine she was holding, the glass shattering on the floor. The others froze, horror on their faces, but Addison rushed to you without a second thought. Despite the tension between you two, despite the resentment she still carried from when you replaced Dell, she didn’t hesitate. She checked for a pulse—nothing. The world around her seemed to blur.

“Violet, call 911!” she shouted, her voice sharp and commanding. She didn’t wait for a response, her hands already moving to your chest. Without hesitation, she began chest compressions, her movements frantic, yet methodical. The others stood frozen, unsure what to do.

“Come on, stay with me,” Addison muttered under her breath, her hands trembling as she pressed down harder. She was fighting for you, for a life she barely knew—fighting despite the fact that you weren’t even a friend. But right now, nothing mattered except getting you back.

The seconds felt like minutes. Her mind raced. I can’t lose anyone else, she thought desperately, but there was no time to dwell on the past. She had to focus.

Her voice cracked as she whispered, “Please, don’t leave me.”

The sound of the room faded. For a moment, it felt like everything was still. Then, a breath. A ragged gasp filled your lungs, and Addison stumbled back, her eyes wide in disbelief. You coughed weakly, your body jolting to life.

Addison’s heart raced, but she didn’t move, not yet. You were breathing. You were alive.

She gently cupped your face, her fingers trembling.