bus, clutching her umbrella in one hand and coffee in the other. She had just ret

a five-minute walk past the bakery that always smelled like ci

ack into memories she didn't want to revisit. Wake up. Shower. Pray

was peaceful - and peace was

nd coffee greeted her like a second home. Nurses hurried down ha

heerfully from behind the desk. "Yo

gning the attendance shee

. "You didn't hear? That car accident from three nights a

of those billionaires. We don't even know who yet, everything is just so coded. I mean it's been three days already" Ava said exasperated. "Ava,

at all?" Ava asked and C

poor man re

will,"

rdroom by next week. Anyway, Dr. Lewis was looking for

a said, already

drama. So there's this patient, I'm sure Ava has already informed you.." Grace said knowingly and they both chuckled.

ied or something like that, I mean won't there be any issues?" Clara aske

ess being introverted paid off. Dr. Lewis is on the case, that man tr

s report on my desk, grab

ing on her, she had to be working with Dr. Lewis on such

e corridor, the weight in her

do this!" She en

plained the situation to Adrian upon his par

initive yet. Adrian listened as Dr. Lewis explained, but

. His company. Nothin

oor creaked

to the patient. Her brea

t coul

tbeat echoing in her ears. His face - older now, sharper, but unmista

ian

backward, her entire

ou're righ

and me the pa

arely steady. "O

aid as soon as his

g. Every head in the room turned - Dr. Lewis

slipped fro

her?" Evelyn Co

his voice barely above

memory trying to claw its w

al mask back on. "I think there's been a mi

her heart w

use s

ars

. I'm sure of it." Adrian sa

y, "you've been through a traumatic event. Mem

xpression - a flicker of hope she could barely contain.

ar the door, arms crossed, jaw set - the kind of posture that told anyone

sk. Across from him sat Mr. and Mrs.

an evenly, "this is about ou

odded, c

Not his family, not his friends. But when you walked into that room he

ling. "Please, Miss Hayes. You saw

ied quickly. "Patients confuse names all

pressed. "What if you're the only

'm a nurse - not a miracle worker. And certainly not a psyc

ot asking for promises. Just... your presence. Dr. Lewis mentioned emotional familiarity can

taken aback. "

your hesitation, but medically speaking, it could b

g her head. "I can't do that. He's not

thing doesn't fit neatly into a job description. You

d. He looked at you like he knew you. If there's eve

nto Evelyn Cole's tearful eyes. There was something raw and

her screamed walk away, someth

ine," she said quietly. "

ate. "Thank you," she whisp

olite smile. "Just until

se," Evel

e name Adrian Cole too well - the boy who once made her believe

gain - not as teenagers, but as stranger

oise and fractured memories, Adrian whispered her name agai

lar