13
Hearing the voice, Elias‘ eyes snapped open, and all traces of sleep vanished.
The girl standing before him stirred something in his memory His chest lightened. He grabbed his phone, navigating quickly to the chat lustory with Mira
No reply since yesterday
A wave of unease surged through him. Could something have happened?
Without hesitation, Elias dialed Mira’s number. The ringing on the other end seemed to stretch endlessly up
finally, the call connected.
“Hello
The familiar sound of her voice made him exhale in relief. “Mira, did you land safely? Why didn’t you let me
know?”
Mira’s tone was calm, almost detached. “The plane was delayed. I just got to the hotel
Elias felt the tension leave his body. “I’m glad you’re sale. Get some rest, okay?”
“Yeah”
The call ended, leaving Elias staring at Vera, who stood so close yet so silent, as if afraid to interrupt. His chest
ached at the sight of her unease.
“Don’t be afraid,” he murmured, his voice softening as he ran his fingers through her hair. “With me here, you
have nothing to worry about ”
Vera hugged him tightly, her warmth pressing against him.
Their plan for the day flashed in his mind a photo shoot by the nearby beach, lunch at two popular restaurants,
and exploring the island by bike.
A strange sense of relief washed over Elias Mira’s business trip abroad meant he could spend these carefree
days with Vera, unburdened by quilt or explanation.
Meanwhile, in Manchester, England, it was eleven o’clock at night–eight hours behind Elias‘ domestic time.
Mira lay on the plush hotel bed, her fingers scrolling through her phone as she organized photos
Elias never cared for taking pictures. The ones they had together were stored on her phone, along with countless moments from their life together–from their first meeting to their marriage.
Their shared cloud account preserved all those memories. She’d even printed a few, selectively cropping the images to exclude him, leaving only herself in the frame.
The group photos saved in the account no longer felt necessary.
Without a second thought, Mira selected them all. When the system prompted her to “delete all,” she pressed
“delete” without hesitation
In less than a minute, thousands of shared memories were erased.
She didn’t stop there. Mira went on to delete every trace of Elias from her social media accounts. The remnants
of a decade–long relationship were wiped away, as if they had never existed.
[Sir, I’ve arrived safely. The preoperative exams will be conducted tomorrow.]
After sending the message, she went to freshen up
The next day, Mira took a taxi to Philekren Hospital. As soon as she entered the building, her gaze landed on Frederick. She hadn’t seen him in three years, but there he was, engaged in conversation with a patient’s family
Tall and slender, Frederick wore a crisp white coat that accentuated his noble bearing. A pair of frameless glasses perched on his straight nose, lending him an air of cold sophistication
Perhaps sensing her presence, Frederick looked up, and their eyes locked across the distance. He exchanged a few words with the family members before walking briskly toward her.
In the corridor that stretched more than ten meters, his footsteps echoed, accompanied by the faint scent of disinfectant and mint.
“Mira, it’s been a long time.
Frederick’s smile was subtle, yet warm. He adjusted his glasses with a practiced motion, his presence calming the tension that had lingered between them for years.
“Mr. Hale,” Mira greeted, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Sorry to trouble you.”
“Don’t be so formal,” he replied, his tone light but sincere. “As a doctor, it’s my duty to help you, and besides,
we’re old classmates.”
His cheerful tone dispelled any awkwardness, and for a moment, it felt as if no time had passed at all.
“Have you had breakfast?” he asked, his voice casual.
“No, I know I need to get blood drawn,” Mira answered.
Frederick nodded, already knowing the schedule. He had arranged all the necessary appointments for her
examinations.
