**Aurora**   Four years of marriage and waking up beside Jason is still my favorite part of the mornings. Last night was one of those nights that would Keep me distracted all day.   I turned to face Jason, I couldn't help but admire how good he looked. His lashes, his almond shaped lip, his smooth skin everything felt so perfect. I wished time could take me back to those moments when we went out on dates and spent more time on each other.Because that was one thing I missed about us.   Jason finally woke up and without even checking if he was still breathing, he drew closer to me pressing one arm on the bed and grabbing my thin waist with the other hand . "Good morning my princess." He gave me a French kiss. I knew that my day was already going to be great because he didn't stop there. He took off the duvet that was covering my naked body and couldn't help but admire how clean I was.   He continued to kiss me but I had to stop him half way to remind him that I had to leave for work by 7am. He sighed and continued to kiss me, he caressed my whole body and I had to let him.    Asides from having handsome features, Jason's had this thick long ball. Infarct he was just any girl's dream. I was already wet before he could even enter me. He just had to render me useless for the whole of that day because he was so good at sex that I wouldn't be able to walk after we are through. Jason disappeared into our bedroom for a moment before returning with a small velvet box in his hand. "For you," he said with an almost boyish grin. I blinked. "Jason... it's not my birthday." "I know. Do I need a special occasion to spoil my wife?" I laughed softly as I opened the box. Inside was a delicate silver bracelet with a tiny heart charm dangling from it. It wasn't expensive, but it was beautiful. "It's gorgeous." "I saw it yesterday and thought of you." My chest tightened with warmth. "You didn't have to." "I wanted to." He carefully fastened it around my wrist before lifting my hand to his lips. His eyes met mine with a tenderness that made my heart race all over again. "When things slow down," he murmured, "let's take a vacation. Just the two of us. No hospital. No business meetings. No phones." I smiled, already imagining sandy beaches and peaceful mornings together. "I'd love that." He pulled me into another hug, and for a brief moment, the rest of the world disappeared. If someone had told me that this was one of the last mornings I'd ever feel this happy, I would have laughed in their face.   ****************   "Are you still going to work"? I smiled at him, "you know I couldn't go to work again". "If that's the case why don't you let me have more taste of you". He said in a seductive way.    I couldn't help but laugh. "Jason Evans, you're impossible."  "Impossible because I love my wife?" He raised an eyebrow, looking far too pleased with himself.  "Impossible because you just made me miss my morning shift." I rolled my eyes, trying to hide the smile tugging at my lips.  "One missed shift won't make the hospital collapse."  "Tell that to Dr Harris."  He chuckled before pressing a soft kiss against my forehead. "Fine. I'll behave."  I just got a message from him that I need to be at the hospital.Now, I had no choice but to go to work.    I slipped out of bed, wrapping the duvet around myself before hurrying toward the bathroom.  "Don't take forever," Jason called after me.  "You were the reason I'm late in the first place!"  His laughter echoed through the bedroom, making me smile.  Twenty minutes later, I stepped out wearing one of his oversized white shirts while drying my damp hair with a towel.   The smell of toasted bread and freshly brewed coffee drifted through the apartment. My eyebrows lifted in surprise.  "You made breakfast?"  Jason shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal.  "My hardworking wife deserves to eat before spending another day saving lives."  My heart melted.  "You're spoiling me."  "That's what you get for having me in your life" he said proudly.  I teased him.   Before I could pick up my fork, Jason held out a piece of toast.  "Open."  I laughed.  "Seriously?"  "Open."  Rolling my eyes, I obeyed.  "Perfect," he said proudly.   How many surgeries today?" Jason asked.I sighed.   "Three. And I have a night shift tomorrow."  "You're working yourself too hard."  "I have to. One day, I'll become the best pediatric nurse in Los Angeles."  He reached across the table and squeezed my hand.  "And you would have me in the front row cheering for you, because you are really doing your best".   The thought of being a paediatric nurse, without a single kid hit me. My smile faded ever so slightly.  Four years.  Four years of marriage and still no baby.  It wasn't as though we hadn't tried.  We had.  More times that I lost count.  Every month came with hope...  And every month ended in disappointment.  Jason noticed the change in my expression.  "Hey." He gently tucked a strand of my blonde hair behind my ear.  "Don't think about it."  "I'm trying not to."  He leaned and kissed my forehead gently. My phone buzzed against the kitchen counter.  Melissa 💕  A smile spread across my face before I answered.  "Good morning, sleepyhead," I teased.  "I'm already awake." She laughed.  "Are you on a night shift today?"  "Not so sure", "why?"   I might stop by your place later. I think I left my anklet there"  "Of course. Jason will be home."  "Great. Tell him I said hi."   ********************  Jason kissed me one last time before walking me to the door.  "Drive safely."  "Always."  I looked back once before stepping into my car.  My husband stood at the doorway, smiling at me the same way he had on our wedding day.  I smiled back without a single doubt in my heart.  I trusted him.  I trusted Melissa.  I never imagined the two people I loved most would become the reason my world came crashing down.

**Aurora**     The shrill ringing of my phone filled the inside of my car just as I stopped at a red light.   Without taking my eyes off the road, I slipped on my Bluetooth earpiece before answering.   "Nurse Aurora speaking."   "Where on earth are you?" Dr. Harris barked from the other end.   I glanced at the dashboard clock and my heart nearly stopped.   8:57am   "I'll be there in a few minutes, Doc.."   "You have exactly five minutes. A little boy in the pediatric ward has refused treatment because he's asking for you."   Before I could respond, the line went dead.   I let out a long sigh and tightened my grip on the steering wheel.   "So much for a peaceful morning."   The traffic light finally turned green, and I drove toward the hospital praying I wouldn't be late.   I arrived at the Pacific crest Hospital.   This was one of the biggest hospital in Los Angelos and it is owned by the Blackwells one of the wealthiest families in Los Angelos. They were in charge of different branches of hospital and companies.   I got down the car took my bag,adjusted my pants that I matched with a cute blouse that my husband gifted me few weeks ago.   The moment I stepped through the sliding glass doors of Pacific crest Hospital .the familiar scent of antiseptic and disinfectant wrapped around me like an old friend. The emergency department was already buzzing with activity despite it being barely nine in the morning.   Doctors hurried down the hall with patient files tucked beneath their arms. Nurses exchanged reports as one shift handed over to the next. Somewhere nearby, a cardiac monitor beeped steadily while a porter wheeled a patient toward Radiology.   This place was chaotic.   It was exhausting.   Yet somehow, it felt like home.   "Morning, Aurora!"   I turned to see Nurse Jessica waving at me from the nurses' station. Jessica was the most dramatic girl I have met, on my first day of work we became friends because she wanted to help me carry my files but when she saw a wedding ring on my hand. She said I should call my husband for help in a very funny way. From then we started to talk about everything.   "Good morning."   "You actually look alive today," she teased. "Did your husband finally let you sleep?"   A soft laugh escaped my lips.   "Not exactly."   Jessica wiggled her eyebrows knowingly.   "I don't need details."   Heat rushed to my cheeks as I tucked a loose strand of my blonde hair behind my ear.   "You're terrible."   "I've been told."   Still smiling, I signed my attendance sheet before slipping on my white coat. The embroidered words Resident Nurse Aurora Evans stared back at me.   Every single time I looked at that name, I felt proud.   Becoming a Nurse hadn't been easy. The endless exams, sleepless nights, and double shifts had pushed me to my limits more times than I could count.   But every sacrifice was worth it.   Because every patient I helped reminded me why I chose this path.   One day, I wouldn't stop at being a resident nurse.   I wanted to become one of the best pediatric nurses in Los Angeles.   Children deserved gentle hands.   They deserved someone who genuinely cared.   And I wanted to be that person.   "Aurora."   I looked up as Dr. Harris approached with a patient file.   "Room twelve is asking for you."   "They specifically requested me?"   He nodded.   "I think you've gained yourself another admirer."   I smiled before taking the file.   "I'll be right there."   As I walked toward the pediatric ward, I couldn't help but smile.   Long hours.   Back pain.   Skipped meals.   Night shifts.   None of it mattered.   If I could make even one frightened patient feel safe, then my day was already a success.   I had no idea that while I was busy saving strangers, the people I loved most were slowly destroying the life I believed was perfect.   I knocked softly before pushing open the door to Room Twelve.   A tiny boy, no older than five, sat on the hospital bed with tears streaming down his cheeks. His small fingers clung tightly to his mother's arm while two nurses stood nearby, each wearing the same helpless expression.   The moment the little boy noticed the syringe in one of the nurses' hands, he burst into louder sobs.   "I don't want an injection!" he cried, burying his face in his mother's chest. "It hurts!"   His mother looked at me with pleading eyes.   "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "We've been trying for almost twenty minutes."   I offered her a reassuring smile before walking over to the bedside.   "Well..." I folded my arms dramatically. "Who is this handsome young man making all this noise?"   The little boy peeked at me through his tears.   "I-I'm not handsome."   I gasped, placing a hand over my chest.   "Who told you that?"   He sniffled.   "My sister."   "Oh no." I shook my head. "Then your sister needs glasses."   A tiny smile tugged at the corners of his lips.   The two nurses exchanged amused glances.   Success.   I crouched until we were eye level.   "My name is Nurse Aurora."   He stared at me for a few seconds before mumbling, "Ethan."   "That's a strong name."   He nodded proudly.   "But..." he whispered, looking at the syringe again. "I'm scared."   I gently took his little hand in mine.   "You know something?"   He looked up.   "I get scared too."   "You do?"   "Sometimes."   "Even though you're a nurse?"   I smiled.   "Even nurses get scared."   "What do you do?"   "I take a deep breath..."   I demonstrated, inhaling slowly before breathing out.   "...and I remind myself that being brave doesn't mean you're never scared."   His eyes widened with curiosity.   "It means you do the hard thing even when you're scared."   He remained quiet for a moment before taking the deepest breath his tiny lungs could manage.   "Like this?"   I couldn't stop myself from laughing.   "Exactly like that."   His mother smiled, tears glistening in her eyes.   "Thank you."   I gave her a small nod before looking back at Ethan.   "Now, here's our deal."   "What deal?"   "You look at me instead of the injection."   "Okay."   "And if you don't cry..."   He waited eagerly.   "...I'll personally make sure the cafeteria gives you two chocolate cookies instead of one."   His eyes lit up.   "Really?"   "I never lie to my patients."   He stretched out his tiny arm with surprising determination.   "I'm ready."   The nurse administered the injection as Ethan squeezed my fingers.   Three seconds later...   It was over.   He blinked in confusion.   "That's it?"   I laughed.   "That's it."   "I didn't cry!"   "You didn't."   "I was brave!"   "You were incredibly brave."   The smile on his face could have lit up the entire hospital.   As his mother thanked me repeatedly, I felt warmth spread through my chest.   Moments like these reminded me why I loved this profession.   Children had a way of healing hearts without even realizing it.   One day...   I hoped I'd have a little boy or girl of my own.   A soft knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts.   I turned around just as one of the junior nurses stepped into the room.   "Nurse Aurora?"   "Yes?"   She offered me a small smile.   "Dr. Ryan Carter has been looking for you."   I frowned slightly.   "Ryan?"   She nodded.   "He said it's important."   A quiet sigh escaped my lips.   "I'll be there in a minute."   "Alright"   She closed the door behind her, leaving me alone with Ethan and his mother.   After saying my goodbyes and reminding Ethan to be brave for his next hospital visit, I stepped into the hallway.   Everywhere and everyone was busy.   I made my way toward my office, wondering what Ryan wanted this time.   The last few weeks had been... exhausting.   No matter how many times I reminded him that I was happily married, he never seemed to give up.   Maybe this time he'd finally gotten the message.   I reached my office door and wrapped my fingers around the handle.   Taking a deep breath, I pushed it open.   The first thing I noticed was the cute gift box resting on my desk.   Then my eyes lifted.   Dr. Ryan Carter was sitting comfortably on my chair one leg crossed over the other asif he owned the place,looking as confident as ever.   The moment our eyes met, a smile spread across his face.   "Finally," he said softly.   "I've been waiting for you, Aurora."   My heart sank.   Please don't tell me he's about to do what I think he is.

**Aurora**   "Finally," he said, rising to his feet. "I've been waiting for you."I sighed, already feeling a headache coming.  "Dr Ryan... what are you doing here?"  "What does it look like?"  "It looks like you're trespassing."  He chuckled.  "I prefer the word visiting."  I walked past him and placed Ethan's medical file on my desk.  "If you're here to flirt again, save your energy. I have charts to finish."  "I wasn't flirting."  I paused and looked at him.  "Oh?"  "I came to return your novel".   "Was packing it in a gift box necessary".   Reading has always been my escape. After long, exhausting shifts at the hospital, nothing calmed my mind more than getting lost in a good romance novel. That was exactly why I'd lent Ryan my copy of Fifty Shades of Grey-not because I wanted to, but because he'd begged me for weeks.  I blinked.  "Ryan-"  Before I could finish, he picked up the Novel and walked toward me.  "Please don't."  "You haven't even heard me out."  "I don't need to."  "I'm in love with you, Aurora."  My breath caught.  I instinctively took a step backward.  Ryan kept walking until the back of my knees hit the edge of my desk.  There was nowhere else to go.  "Ryan..."  "I know you're married."  "Then you know this conversation shouldn't be happening."  "I also know a woman like you deserves to be appreciated every single day."  I frowned.  "My husband appreciates me."  Ryan smiled sadly.  "I hope he does."  He stretched out the novel and asked me to reach for it if I could. Ryan was undeniably handsome. His sharp jawline, warm hazel eyes, and athletic build made him one of the most admired doctors in the hospital. More than half the female staff had a crush on him.  Unfortunately for him, I wasn't one of them.  "Give me back the novel"  He raised the novel above his head with a teasing grin.  "Come and get it."  I glared at him.  "Ryan, this isn't funny."  Standing on my tiptoes, I reached for the book, but he was simply too tall.  I stretched a little farther...  My heel slipped against the polished floor.  "Aah!"  Before I could hit the ground, Ryan instinctively grabbed my waist..  The force pulled me forward.  My palms landed against his chest.  For one brief second...  We froze.  Our faces were inches apart.  Then-  The office door burst open.  Nurse Au-"  My colleague Nurse Vera stopped mid-sentence.  Her eyes grew as wide as saucers.  She looked from Ryan's arm around my waist...  ...to my hands pressed against his chest.  "Oh my God..."  I quickly stepped away.  "It isn't what it looks like."  "I-I didn't see anything."  Her voice shook.  "I'll come back later."  "No, wait!"  But she had already rushed out of the office.  I covered my face with both hands.  "This is bad."  Ryan sighed.  "I'll go explain."  "You'll only make it worse."  Knowing hospitals, gossip would spread faster than a virus.  By tomorrow morning...  Everyone would probably think I was having an affair.  I was already getting furious and asked Ryan to leave my office.   As I quietly sat at my sit,my heart seemed to skip faster than usual. I couldn't stop thinking about what just happened.  Just then my phone rang   Melissa ❤️  I answered immediately.  "Hey, Mel."  "Busy?"  "You would not believe what just happened "  She laughed.  "What's up bitch?"  I told her everything because why not she is my BFF.  ****************  "Where are you gonna be tonight?" " hospital?".  "Yes... why?"  "I was thinking of stopping by your place."  The smile on my face faded ever so slightly.  For some reason...  The question felt... strange.  Melissa had asked me almost the same thing a few days ago.  "You can still come over," I said. "Jason will be home."  call:  "No problem"Melissa said almost immediately.  I frowned.  "You sound excited."  She laughed nervously. "Do I?"  "Yes you do"  The call ended.  I slipped my phone into my coat pocket, but for reasons I couldn't explain, an uncomfortable feeling settled in my chest.  It was simply... uneasiness.  Melissa had asked about my work schedule more than once this week.  Maybe I was reading too much into it.  She was my best friend.  No...  She was more than that.  After my parents died in a tragic car accident when I was sixteen, the Grants had taken me into their home. Uncle Richard and Aunt Sophia never treated me like an outsider. They loved me as though I were their own daughter.  Melissa and I grew up sharing everything. We went to the same school, we had almost everything in common so she was just more than a bestie, she was more like a sister.We told each other everything from our first kiss.Everything about me she knew it and so did I.  Even when Jason came into my life, she was one of the first people I introduced him to.  I still remembered the way she'd laughed after meeting him.  "He's exactly my type."  I'd laughed too.  "Too bad he's already mine."  She had simply smiled and hugged me.  Back then, I never imagined there would come a day when that memory would make me uncomfortable.  I shook my head.  "What is wrong with me?" I muttered.  Melissa would never betray me.  And Jason...  The rest of the afternoon dragged on.  No matter how hard I tried to focus on my patients, my mind kept drifting back to that strange feeling.  By the time my shift was almost over, I'd made up my mind.  I walked over to Jessica.  "Jess?"  She looked up from the files she was organizing.  "Yeah?"  "I know this is last minute, but... would you mind covering my night shift for me?"  She blinked in surprise.  "You? Asking for time off?"  I laughed softly.  "I know. It's unlike me."  "Are you okay?"  "I think so. I'm just... exhausted."  Jessica studied me for a moment before nodding.  "I'll cover for you."  Relief washed over me.  "Thank you."  "Go home and get some rest. You look like you've been carrying the whole hospital on your shoulders."  "If only it were that easy."  An hour later, I unlocked the front door to the apartment.  Silence greeted me.  I placed my handbag on the console table and kicked off my heels.  "Jason?" I called.  No answer.  I glanced at the clock.  Six-thirty.  He should have been home soon.  Just then, my phone vibrated.  Melissa ❤️  "Don't tell me you're already outside."  "I'm so sorry, Rory."  Her voice sounded apologetic.  "Something came up."  "I won't be able to make it today."  "Oh..."  Disappointment flickered through me.  "It's okay."  "I promise I'll come another day."  "I'll hold you to that."  "You know I love you, right?"  I smiled.  "I know."  After hanging up, I set my phone on the kitchen counter.  A few minutes later, it rang again.  This time...  ❤️ Jason Calling ❤️  "Hi, honey."  "Princess."  His warm voice instantly eased my mood.  "I'm really sorry, but I have to work late tonight."  "Oh."  "It's okay."  "I'll be home as soon as I can."  "Don't overwork yourself."  He chuckled.  "I should be telling you that."  "I love you."  "I love you too."  The call ended.  I stared at the dark screen for a long moment before setting the phone down.  The apartment suddenly felt much quieter than usual.  Too quiet.  Without realizing it, I wrapped my arms around myself.  For the first time in a very long time...  Being alone in my own home didn't feel comforting.  It felt... awkward more because by that time most times I am at the hospital either in an icu or writing charts.  I headed toward the bedroom, un dressed and headed to the bathroom to take a shower.  Unaware that my decision to leave work early had already ruined someone else's plans.  Little did I know...  Someone was desperately hoping I wouldn't come home tonight.