The cruelest lies are the ones we tell ourselves.
——
Lily’s POV
When Dr. Jones finally left the room, he followed her. I stared at the place where he had been sitting—at the indentation left behind in the mattress. It was ridiculous, the way it pulled at something inside me. A hollow, aching place.
It was just fabric, barely pressed down.
But it felt like he’d taken something with him when he stood.
It was stupid.
But it was also real.
I didn’t dare move. I waited for the door to click shut, for his footsteps to retreat down the hall.
But he didn’t go.
He lingered at the door, back still turned, as if some part of him couldn’t step through it.
Then, he spoke.
“This is good news.”
My breath hitched. Hope daring to bloom.
I sat up straighter. My heart, so small and broken secon
