"He's stable," the doctor said. "The surgery went well. The bullet missed anything critical by a narrow margin, but he's a lucky young man. He'll need rest, and time, but barring complications, he should make a full recovery."
For a moment none of them moved, the words taking a second too long to fully land, and then Jihan's knees buckled slightly, catching himself against the wall, a sound tearing out of him that was half sob, half relieved laugh, entirely wrecked.
"He's okay," Jihan said, like he needed to say it out loud to believe it. "He's actually okay."
"He's resting now," the doctor continued. "You can see him briefly once he's settled in recovery, but he'll likely be asleep for most of tonight. I'd encourage you all to get some rest yourselves. He'll need you steady when he wakes."
The doctor left, and Jihan sank into the nearest chair, both hands covering his face, his shoulders shaking with the release of everything he'd been holding since the gunshot.
