POV: Violet
Hospitals had a way of swallowing sound. Even with the constant shuffle of nurses’ shoes, the beeping of monitors, and the low murmur of voices, it always felt like the walls soaked up more than they gave back. Every step I took down the hallway, my pulse seemed louder, echoing in my own ears.
Ryan was beside me, broad shoulders cutting through the crowd, drawing curious glances as always. He wore the same scowl he reserved for “serious business,” but I could feel it wasn’t about work. It was about me.
I hated that he could sense my unease so easily.
I hated even more that I couldn’t just tell him.
My hand brushed against my coat pocket, where my phone buzzed once before going still. I didn’t dare look. Not with his eyes flicking toward me every five seconds like he was wa
