STAY WITH ME.

CHAPTER FIVE.

The next few days passed in a blur of final arrangements. Karen contacted Jake’s office, I had signed the final divorce documents and all that was left was Jake’s signature, which he hadn’t given yet. I wouldn’t be waiting for that. I was already making plans to leave town as soon as possible. I needed to find a place to stay, somewhere safe for my child and I.

I sat on the edge of my bed, A wave of uncertainty washed over me, and I shook my head, talking to the silence. “Can I really do this? Leave everything behind?” I whispered, glancing at my hands which were already balling into fists.

Pulling out my laptop, I started typing in search terms almost mechanically: quiet towns, affordable apartments, jobs for nurses……I scrolled through endless lists, but nothing felt right. I could still feel Karen’s gaze, serious but encouraging as she spoke. “You know Emma” she’d said, “It takes courage to walk away, even if it’s from something that’s been holding you down”

I felt a pang of conviction as i stared at the screen. My career, my marriage, my whole life- it was as if i was slowly untying knots that had anchored me for half a decade.

Finally, a listing caught my eye. A quiet, affordable apartment in a little town just beyond California, called Angel’s Creek. Perfect. I could see myself there, raising my baby in peace, far from the prying eyes and suffocating memories. I hadn’t even let myself think about the baby amidst everything else, but now, an unexpected warmth spread through me as I reached down, cradling my belly. My baby. A soft smile crept over my face, the kind I hadn’t felt in ages.

“I’m sorry I have to leave your daddy but I promise to be the best mommy in the world” I talked to my belly as I stroked it gently.

A glow from my phone broke the moment- Jake’s number. Again? I’d blocked his main line, but he kept calling from different numbers. Did he honestly think we could just pick up where we left off? I watched the screen ring out, then blocked this line too. He could keep trying, but this was over. I wasn’t waiting around for his signature or his approval. “I need to speed up this whole process, I must talk to my supervisor at work tomorrow” I thought to myself as I closed my laptop and laid down on the bed, staring at the hotel room that had become home this past week. The thought of Angels creek being the last on my mind before I slowly drifted to sleep.

The next day, I strode into the hospital with a determination that surprised even me. I clutched my resignation letter tightly as I made my way to my supervisor’s office.

Dr Hastings glanced up, His face warming up when he saw me.

“Emma, How are you doing?” He said glancing at my stomach.

He had definitely heard the news, My hands subconsciously went to my stomach.

“I’m very well sir, I actually came to speak to you about something” I replied, keeping my voice steady even as my heart hammered.

“Is everything okay Emma? Is anybody giving you troubles here?” He said, a frown creasing his forehead just a little.

“No sir- it’s just-“

I push the white envelop towards him instead. His eyes widened a bit with realization when he saw the paper in my hand. He took it from me and quickly glanced through, taking a deep sigh as he folded it back.

“Emma…This is sudden” he said, brows knitting together as he scanned the letter.

“I know…but i think i need this break, for me and the baby”

“A break?” He repeated, leaning back in his chair, giving me a skeptical look. “You could eventually take the break Emma, but this is a resignation letter, this is no break”

I remained silent as he assessed me.

“Or is there more to this? You’ve always been one of our most dependable nurses. This just…doesn’t sound like you”

I pressed my lips together, choosing my words carefully. “Sometimes…life shifts. And right now, I need to step away to take care of some things” My voice softened, almost pleading. “It’s not forever. Just…something i need to do”

Dr Hastings sighed, removing his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose. “If this is what you really want…” He paused, looking over me as if searching for a clue to my sudden change. “Emma, you’re…alright aren’t you? If there is something going on, we can work around it”

I shook my head, willing myself to stay composed. “No, really, I’m fine. I’ve thought about this carefully” A half lie, maybe, but it was the truth I was trying to build.

He leaned back, exhaling slowly. “Alright, but you have a spot here if you ever want to come back, okay? Don’t burn bridges”

“Thank you” I said softly, meaning it.

I walked out of his office to continue the rest of my shift. My last shift.

After my never ending shift, I make my way to my locker to pick up my stuff. A strange weightlessness settled over me. like I was floating through the sterile hallways instead of walking. Everything felt both surreal and sharply real. My life here- Six years of countless shifts, endless rounds, faces I knew by heart- was slowly peeling away.

“Emma?”

I turned to see Megan, I realized in that moment that she was one of my closest acquaintances in the hospital. We’d shared countless night shifts together.

“Hey Megan” I managed, trying to keep my tone light, though my throat felt tight.

“Rumor has it that you’re leaving?” She tilted her head, her expression a blend of confusion and concern. “Is that true?”

I gave a small nod, gripping the strap of my bag. “Yeah…I need time to prepare for the baby”

Her eyes flickered over me, searching “Emma, you’re just few weeks gone and you just found out. Does this have anything to do with Jake?”

“Honestly?” I hesitated, feeling the press of unshed emotions. “We’re not in a good place right now, I feel so overwhelmed with work and everything. I don’t think that’s healthy for the baby”

She bit her lip, nodding in understanding. “I get it. But we’re really going to miss you Emma”

I smiled, though it barely touched the ache inside. “I’ll miss you all too”

She gave me a warm hug and walked away, leaving me alone in the hallway. I took the long route to my locker, breathing in the air of the place one last time. My footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, merging with the faint beeping of monitors from the nearby rooms.

When I opened my locker, my gaze fell on the neatly folded scrubs, the spare hair ties, the tiny coffee stain I’d never managed to wash out of the inner door. Everything felt suspended, like pieces of a past life that was fading as I touched them. I stuffed a few personal things into my bag, hesitating over a small photo of the team taken at last year’s Christmas party. In it, my arm was slung over Megan’s shoulders, both of us mid laugh, cheeks flushed. The moment had been so…simple.

I heard footsteps behind me, and turned to see Dr Hastings standing there, hands in his coat pocket. His face softened. “Packing up, I see”

“Yeah” I replied, barely managing a smile. “Guess it’s official now”

He stepped closer, glancing into my locker before his gaze landed on me. “I wanted to make sure you know…If you ever need a reference, or if there’s anything I can do, don’t hesitate to reach out”

I nodded, suddenly grateful for his kindness. “Thank you Dr Hastings. Really”

He looked down at his shoes, clearing his throat before he spoke. “Take care of yourself, Emma. And…take care of that little one too”

A warmth bloomed in my chest and I pressed a hand over my belly. “I will”