But as the first light of morning broke through the curtains, determination surged within him. Slowly, tentatively, he inched himself upright, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. His heart pounded in his chest as he placed his feet on the cool tile floor.

The moment stretched, infinite and eternal, as he summoned every ounce of courage to shift his weight forward. And then, with a gasp that echoed through the empty room, Alexander stood.

Tears welled in his eyes as disbelief mingled with joy, and he let out a laugh—half sob, half exclamation—as he took an unsteady step, then another. The world seemed to tilt and spin around him, yet he pressed on, driven by a mixture of elation and incredulity.