ra

nds on her apron, forcing a small smile

y, from the uncertainty, from the ma

dr

re than it should. "Coming!" she called, w

he stopped. Eve

s lifted, She saw him. Adri

mory. Not

d, neither o

owed slightly... re

," he

s heart

ememb

ht," he added, his voice

t. Fate. It

aid quickly, nerves spilling into her wor

slightly, his atten

at i

a swa

nctively moved

t sound cra

uz

through the mom

an's

ession hardened instantly, all focus shifting away from h

it Adrian, I need to tell y

was gone. Elara stood there, frozen, her words dying in h

anger. Not from embarrassment

king f

ian'

ge came li

every word once... then again... and

e hit harder

r me because you love

ghtened arou

r his breath, eyes dark

ing was

uld fe

hings but she wasn't

write this,"

pain turned into somet

ag

he ordered immediately

ra's

felt longer

steps slow, careful like she was trying no

was her

t was he

mayb

secret growi

ushed open the door to he

es stopped her. Nurses "...I'm tellin

he comes here almost every day," another replied quietly. "The

in sight. These girls, honest

ould feel it. Her first instinct was to walk away. To pretend she

e opened it

Her hear

, forcing a small smile despite the sudde

aid, trying to sound normal, tr

r mother replied, pulling back sl

r," Elara said quick

olding around him. A moment of peace in the middle of chaos.B

as the co

anket over her brother carefully, like everyt

ying a secret that co

St

d froze

. she loo

r was

es were

t s

t w

ha

wa

y, his voice rough from s

eart d

" she asked quickly

m," he cut in

throat

id you're

ded between th

't deny it.

umped slightly as

hing," she wh

ing slightly despite his condition. "You'

ed her eyes

loser to him. "Don't raise you

s she

ic creeping in. "No. And she can't

ared a

s the f

pau

s lips

e admitted quietly. "It

expressio

sbe

n an

his voice filled with shock. "

softly. "It just happ

. "You're just going to car

pped down

ately. "I promise. Just... don't t

ooked at

nd, she thought

No." the wo

ol

," he said firmly. "S

chest t

r, ple

door

ything fe

ped in, holding

the dr