Elena didn’t get home until late that evening.
After leaving the hospital, she had spent several more hours with Daniel. Telling him that she had managed to secure a loan from work to cover his surgery had been one of the happiest moments she had experienced in months.
The relief in his eyes was unforgettable.
For the first time in a long while, he looked hopeful.
He smiled more.
He laughed more.
And when the doctor stopped by to confirm that the surgery could finally be scheduled, Elena had nearly cried all over again.
Now, sitting on the edge of her bed in her small apartment, reality was beginning to settle in.
The apartment was quiet except for the faint hum of the ceiling fan above her.
Her laptop sat open.
Her phone rested beside her.
And displayed on both screens was the
