MELISSA’S POV
I have spent so much time in this hospital that I can’t even remember what life outside of its walls feels like anymore. The scent of antiseptic, the low hum of machines, the soft shuffle of nurses’ shoes on polished floors—all of it had become part of my daily rhythm. I could almost walk these halls with my eyes closed, knowing exactly where every turn led, every familiar face belonged. It’s strange how quickly a place you never wanted to be in can become so familiar, almost like a second home.
But finally, that time is over.
Xavier is leaving today.
I stood by the window of his ward earlier, watching as sunlight filtered through the blinds. For the first time in weeks, I didn’t feel that weight in my chest, that constant worry that had accompanied me since the accident.
