Evelyn-Present
I wave goodbye to Andrew as we go our separate ways—he's heading to the boardroom for one of his many meetings (being a head doctor means he's always busy), and I'm off to the nurses' station. It's a routine I know all too well. As I approach the station, I grab my cart like I do every day. Among the familiar faces, I spot Alice—my fellow nurse and best friend. I wave her over, and I can immediately tell she's bursting with excitement.
"Hi! Oh my god, you will not believe what happened yesterday!" she practically shouts.
That's when I notice the massive diamond ring on her finger.
"No way… He didn't!" I gasp, already knowing the answer.
"Yes! Last night—he took me to this incredibly romantic dinner, and right there, in front of everyone at the diner, he got down on one knee and proposed. I was crying when I said yes," she gushes, her eyes shining with happiness. "I've never been this happy in my life."
"I'm so happy for you," I reply with a polite smile, though I can already feel my attention slipping. "I'd love to hear more, but I've got to go—I'm needed for assistance in Room 36. Sorry!"
Grateful for the excuse, I quickly walk away. As expected, Room 36 is empty. I'm just about to leave when I notice the bathroom light is on. I walk over to switch it off—and that's when I see it. An empty pill bottle lies next to the waste bin. I bend down for a closer look, but just as I'm about to read the label, someone calls for me from the hallway. I quickly shove the bottle into my pocket and head out, telling myself I'll examine it later.
After a long, exhausting day, Andrew and I are finally back in the car, heading home.
"How was your day, hon?" he asks, eyes focused on the road.
"It was good," I say, trying to sound upbeat. "I heard Alice and Jake got engaged. I'm happy for them."
"Yeah, I heard too. Jake couldn't stop smiling all day," he replies with a small smile, but something about his expression shifts. There's a heaviness in his voice.
"Hey," I say gently, placing a hand on his arm. He flinches.
"Whoa… Why so jumpy? Are you alright?"
He hesitates. "Yeah… no. Not really. A patient passed away during surgery today. I just... I can't stop hearing her last words."
My heart sinks. "Oh, Andrew. I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help? Anything at all?"
He swallows hard. "Honestly? I'd appreciate it if we could just drive in silence for a while. I'm trying to keep it together."
"Of course. No pressure—take your time," I say softly.
The car ride falls into a heavy silence, and though I respect his wish, my curiosity grows stronger with every passing minute. Eventually, I can't hold it in any longer.
"I don't mean to push," I begin gently, "but earlier… when you said you couldn't stop thinking about her last words—what did she say?"
He exhales slowly, his hands tightening slightly around the steering wheel. There's a long pause before he finally speaks.
"She looked at me," he says quietly, "and her voice was barely above a whisper. She said, 'Tell her… I forgive her.'