THE FIRST DAY
453 Words
Morning light spilled through the blinds, brushing gently over half-unpacked boxes and the faint scent of new beginnings. Aria stood by the window, a mug of coffee warming her hands as she watched the city stretch awake. Today was her first day at the hospital — her first day as a nurse in a new city, far from everything she once knew.
Her heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and nerves. She’d left her old life behind for this — for the chance to start over, to heal in the same way she helped others heal.
She dressed in her freshly ironed scrubs, pinned her name tag just above her heart, and tied her hair back into a neat bun. The reflection staring back at her in the mirror looked composed, but she could still feel the tremor of uncertainty beneath her calm exterior.
Grabbing her bag, Aria stepped into the elevator, breathing deeply to steady herself.
The doors slid open — and there he was.
Adrian.
The man from last night. The one whose steady hand and quiet smile had somehow settled her nerves when she’d first arrived.
He looked different this morning, more grounded, a hint of a grin touching his lips. He held a paper cup and a folder under his arm.
“Well,” he said, eyes lighting up, “we have to stop meeting like this.”
“I guess this building has its way of making introductions.”
He chuckled. “You heading to work?”
She nodded, adjusting her stethoscope. “First day at the hospital. New nurse in town.”
“Ah,” he said, with a knowing tone. “That explains the nerves.”
Her eyebrows lifted slightly. “How’d you guess?”
He shrugged, that same calm confidence in his voice. “You have the look — careful, kind, a little too focused for someone just riding an elevator.”
Aria laughed softly. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” tightening her grip on her bag. “Maybe we should officially introduce ourselves”
He chuckled and extended his hand. “Adrian.”
“Aria,” she replied, shaking it gently.
His gaze lingered for a brief second — not too long, but enough to make her heart skip a beat.
The elevator chimed, and before she knew it the doors opened.
“Good luck today, Aria,” Adrian said, his tone warm and certain — and this time, it made sense how he knew her name.
Aria smiled as she stepped out, a strange sense of calm washing over her. Still, as she walked toward the hospital, she couldn’t shake the quiet thought that their paths weren’t done crossing yet.
- Writer
