iv

just a simple black T-shirt and a pair of jeans. My body was pressed close to

s and his firm, square jaw. His hot breath brushed against my skin

allo

enly, my

k to my senses. I immed

thank you," I

hen something seemed to click in his mind, and he add

lmost as if he wan

out across my back. I bit my lowe

recog

familiar-this was where our high

myself to sound clueless, thou

nion. Aren't you here for

. I'm here for a company cel

sked again, doubt st

a single mother, because I was struggling financially, I s

for too long. I was used to being ju

to confirm whether I came to the wrong place, or whether you think I shouldn't be h

tense, ma'am," he said, confused. "I

my lip

ing? Had he not

ize," his tone softened. "Yo

met three days

ded. "That's not what I meant. Don't tak

n typed back, Yes, Dr. Morgan. Thank you for your concer

ly relieved. Then he added, "If

mn

haritable tone of his. Why was he s

crossing the boundaries of a doctor–patient relatio

ou always this sharp? It's like I've done someth

off. He had hurt me befo

o worry. And I don't need it. I have colleag

d away

e was to remain strangers-to pass by

n off his clothes when he caught me earlier. I'd meant

didn't take u

g. Everyone gathered around quickly. We chatted and sang.

in under

ng, I lay in bed, staring at th

lightly with

t changed," I mu

hes from this brand. Memories of sec

snapping me out

a," I answe

complained, though I could hear the worry beneath her wo

asking for money because of

or me, Grandma,

n overwhelming, and I hadn't found the time. Maybe after Hannah's surgery, once my fi

hile, until her v

"Even though he. he's still your uncle.

s if she wanted to say m

unc

andma worrying about any of that.

her father, my grandfather, passed away. My father was a gambler. When he won, he

raise

nly family I tr

I understand,

ed the

e city, I had never once consid

s clinic hours. I'd checked his schedule at the front desk-he only saw patients on

t still run into him. He work

g I could to avoid-or at

," a nurse

raced. As Noah walked past us toward his office, I gripped Hannah's

eaty," Hannah said, p

She was wiping her pal

led a

t help feeling tense-even though

e went to the reception desk

nnah. She was already asleep, clu

-from her eyebrows, to her e

o my room and sat at the vanity, s

cascading over my shoulders. High cheekbones, a defined jawline, and l

hat I was the overweight