The veterinarian, her professional demeanor momentarily dropped, turned to Artem with eyes wide.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” she whispered, her voice a mixture of awe and caution. “It’s as if he’s fighting… fighting to stay a little longer.”

Leo’s breathing, once labored, seemed to settle into a rhythm that while fragile, was more stable than it had been moments before.

His gaze, steady and clear, locked onto Artem’s, conveying a depth of emotion that transcended words. It was as if in that moment, Leo had decided that he was not quite ready to let go, that he still had something to give, something to share.