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"He's good, Nikolai," Elena said She sounded tired, but there was a lightness in her voice that gave me hope "It's not cancer," she quickly added

The relief was overwhel So much so that I sank back down onto the couch and pressed ainst my hand as if it had suddenly become too heavy for my body "Thank God," I breathed

“It's a bacterial infection"

I shookage, Maks had already had three bacterial infections in the last year His doctor hadn't been able to explain them He’d simply prescribed antibiotics and that had been it But none of the previous infections had caused such an extreme reaction

"He can probably go home tomorrow," Elena continued

"Do they knohat caused it?" I asked

There was a long pause and then Elena said, "No"

"I'll be there as soon as I can," I said

"No, Nikolai, I know you need to work Besides, the doctors want to limit how many visitors Maks has until they're sure his body is responding to the antibiotics Mas, so we’re fine"

I pinched the bridge of ht, but I still didn't like not being there for her Despite Elena being ten years younger than me, she and I were extremely close Asto me

Even as I had the thought, Jude entered et off the phone and find hi Tell Maks I'll see him soon"

"I will," Elena responded

We said our goodbyes and hung up As soon as I did, a notification ca in relief It was froht shift for me His text said that he and Jude had just arrived at Jude's office I sent hi that I was on my way to relieve hih a shower and a shave and then hurried to the kitchen to make some coffee I was surprised to find freshly brewed coffee already waiting for me I knew I had Jude to thank for that because I certainly hadn’t been in any position to prep the coffee the night before