17
The next chapter of my life began far from City A. I vanished, leaving behind the pain, the lies, and the betrayal to start anew in the countryside with Theodore.
The next morning, after a full day’s journey, we finally arrived at the newly built branch hospital.
When we first saw the hospital, we were a bit shocked. It was a simple building, even though the equipment inside was surprisingly modern, and the facility was clean and efficient.
Along with the other doctors and nurses sent there, I began adjusting to the new chapter of my life. It was not easy, but I knew it was necessary.
I registered Theodore for daycare immediately, securing his place in the small but cozy facility near the hospital. Then I arranged our temporary accommodation in the staff dormitory, which was basic but comfortable enough
for us to call home.
d my new o
I number with colleagues, explaining casually that my old number had expired.
Each morning, I made it a habit to jog along the quiet dirt paths that surrounded the hospital.
The countryside’s open skies and fresh air became my therapy, a way to clear my mind of the heavy baggage I
had brought from City A.
Slowly but surely, I began to heal.
Six months passed in what felt like the blink of an eye. The pain I had once carried like a weight on my chest
started to fade.
I no longer woke up with tears in my eyes or replayed the betrayal of Liam and Evelyn in my mind.
The ER there turned out to be much busier than I had anticipated also. Although we were in the countryside, the hospital was located near a toll road, making it the closest first–aid center for highway accidents.
“Everything is good. Your husband just needs to rest,” I said to an elderly woman who had accompanied her husband to the ER. They had been brought in by paramedics after being involved in a pile–up on the toll road.
The woman smiled gratefully. “Thank you, doctor,” she said softly, still clutching her husband’s hand tightly.
I noticed her hands trembling slightly and tilted my head in concern. “Are you sure you’re okay, ma’am? If you want, I can check on you as well.”
She hesitated for a moment but shook her head. “I’m fine,” she assured me. “My husband has asthma, so I was
nervous. But now that I see he’s okay, I feel better. I just can’t stop thinking about the accident”
The elderly man, who had started breathing more regularly, reached out and patted his wife’s hand.
“My wife is a superwoman,” he said with a weak but playful smile. “She’s undergone heart surgery, you kn nd she’s stronger than ever.”
I could not help but laugh at his joke, the lightheartedness cutting through the tension of the ER. “You’re very lucky to have each other,” I said before turning to another patient.
As I moved away, their warmth lingered in my mind. Their romance, their bond, it was something I had not felt in a long time.
My thoughts drifted to the past, to moments when Liam had been sick from exhaustion after long days at work. I used to stay by his side, making sure he was comfortable, holding his hand while he slept. He would wake up and tell me I was a superwoman, juggling work, taking care of him and Theodore, and still finding time to laugh.
That kind of romance, could I ever have it again?
But then I shook my head quickly, patting my cheeks lightly to snap myself out of it.
“No,” I muttered to myself firmly. “Don’t think that way, Amelia. You have Theodore now, and that’s enough.”
I went back to the staff room, finding Nathaniel was there, standing by the coffee machine. He glanced up when
he saw me enter.
“Want a coffee?” he asked, his voice light and welcoming.
“Sure,” I replied, managing a tired smile as I sank into a chair.
For
r months, Nathaniel and I had grown closer. He had become more than just a friend–a dependable colleague
and an unwavering presence in my new life.
On our days off, we often went shopping together, and I found comfort in his easy–going company.
But one quiet evening. Nathaniel had confessed something unexpected.
“Amelia,” he had said, his voice uncharacteristically serious. “I’ve liked you since we were on campus.”
I looked at him in surprise, unable to find the words as he continued.
“I always missed the chance to say it back then,” he admitted. “And before I knew it, Liam came into the picture and I lost my opportunity.”
He paused, his gaze steady. “But now, if you’re willing…can I pursue you again?”
