At Westlife Medical Center
The corridors buzzed with quiet urgency as nurses wheeled beds and doctors hurried between rooms.
Elena sat in the quiet waiting area, the weight of her diagnosis heavy in her chest. The cold betrayal she had overheard the night before still echoed in her mind.
The cruel conversation between her husband and best friend, spoken with a callousness she had not imagined.
She clenched the straps of her handbag tightly, trying to steady her hands as she watched families reunite and strangers shuffle past, each carrying their own stories of hope and heartbreak. The doctor had given her a fragile hope.
For the first time, the decision to forego treatment felt heavier than ever.
Her heart ached in ways no illness could explain.
Elena closed her eyes and took a slow breath trying to calm the storm within her.
A sudden soft whimper broke her concentration. Elena looked up to see a small girl sitting alone on a bench across from her, her face hidden behind her dark hair.
The child was no older than six, trembling slightly as she hugged a worn teddy bear to her chest.
Elena's heart tugged
Before she could stand, a tall man in a sharp tailored suit approached, gently placing a hand on the girl's shoulder
"Emma, sweetheart, try to stay calm. We will see the doctor soon" the man said in a calm, reassuring voice
Elena's eyes widened as she took in the man's striking presence — dark hair flecked with silver at the temples, piercing blue eyes and a posture that commanded the room without effort.
She felt an unexpected flutter in her chest
The girl looked up, eyes wide but silent
She pressed her lips together, refusing to speak
The man sighed softly. "I know it is hard, Emma but you are safe now"
Elena wanted to reach out, to say something but words stuck in her throat
The man glanced towards her the nodded slightly as if noticing her presence for the first time
"I am Damian" he said quietly, offering a polite smile
"Elena" she replied, managing a weak smile
They sat in silence for a few moments, watching Emma clutch her bear tighter
"Did something happen to her?" Elena finally asked
Damian's gaze darkened. "Car accident. A few weeks ago. Her parents... they didn't make it"
Elena's throat tightened, empathy blossoming despite the weight of her pain
"She hasn't spoken since" Damian continued. "Doctors say it is trauma, she is protecting herself in silence"
Elena looked down at her hands "protecting herself in silence", the phrase echoed painfully.
She knew too well what it meant to shut the world out
"She is lucky to have you" Elena said softly
Damian gave a small appreciative nod but said nothing more
A nurse appeared, calling "Mr Backwood? Dr Reynolds is ready to see Emma "
Damian stood and turned to Emma
"Ready, sweetheart?"
The nodded slowly, still silent
Damian gave Elena a subtle nod "It was nice meeting you, Elena"
"you too" she whispered
As they left, Elena felt a strange warmth inside her.
Later, on a quiet terrace outside the pediatric wing, Elena lingered on a bench kept between flower beds.
Her gaze wandered to the far end of the garden where sunlight filtered through the trees
To her surprise, Damian appeared again with small bag of snacks.
When noticed her, he hesitated before walking over
"Would you mind if I joined you?" he asked
Elena blinked "No, I don't "
They sat quietly first, then Damian placed the bag in front of her
Inside the bag were two soft muffins
Elena smiled "Thank you"
They sat in silence, each lost in their world
"Emma seems very attached to you" Elena eventually said
His tightening slightly, Damian said "She has had her a fair share of life. I'm trying to make things stable for her "
Elena looked at him curiously but didn't pry
"You are very good with her" she said instead
He glanced at her, something unreadable flickering in his eyes "I try"
They talked a little longer, mostly about neutral topics.
Every word lingered a growing sense of familiarity
As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows over the garden, Damian rose from the bench and dusted off his trousers
"Thank you for the company, Elena" he said
She gave a small smile "it was nice to talk "
He nodded "Maybe we will run into each other again"
She didn't answer but as he walked away, she realized she was hoping they would
Back in her hospital room, Elena sat by the window, thinking about the little girl's haunted eyes and the quiet strength in Damian's voice.
It had been a long time someone spoke to her without pity or obligation. Somehow that meant more
She pulled out her phone and stared at the treatment plan Dr Singh had sent her earlier that morning. Her chest tightened
Then she remembered the small silent child and the man who fought for her to feel safe.
For the first time in a while, Elena considered the possibility of choosing to fight for herself and not for anyone.
She had to live
She had to hold unto life, until she is left with nothing
That somehow made all the differences