BITTER REALITY
Lexa's voice softened as she watched her mom succumb to sleep. She tenderly adjusted the bedspread, smiling at the thought that her storytelling had done the trick.
Her gaze fell upon the novel beside her mom's reading glasses – "Midnight Sunset" by Sandra Brown.
The title surprised her; she hadn't realized her mom enjoyed romance novels.
The hospital room's gentle hum and occasional chatter enveloped her. Lexa felt a sudden urge to escape the sterile atmosphere.
As she stepped outside, she noticed Grant engaged in conversation with a nurse at the reception desk.
"Grant— " she began, hastily correcting herself. "Doctor Stone."
Grant's attention shifted to Lexa, his expression transforming from professional to personal. He excused himself from the nurse and approac
