YouHeal Hospital
The soft rustling of paper charts and distant echoes of conversations drifted through the hospital hallway as Savannah walked briskly, her eyes scanning faces and doorways with a sharpness that made her look almost out of place among the calm professionalism of the setting. Her coat fluttered lightly behind her with each step, and the faint worry etched on her face didn't go unnoticed by a few of the staff passing by.
When she reached the nurses' station, she paused, scanning the area for a familiar face. One of the young nurses seated there looked up and smiled.
"Have you seen Bella?" Savannah asked, her voice soft yet laced with urgency.
The nurse blinked, quickly checking her tablet. "Umm... I think she just stepped out into the backyard with a patient. She should be right out there."
Savannah nodded slightly. "Thank you," she replied, turning to head toward the glass doors that led outside.
As soon as she stepped into the backyard, the sunlight warmed her skin, providing a grounding comfort—but her mind was anything but calm. She quickly scanned the open area, taking in patients seated on benches, some chatting with family, while others simply enjoyed the gentle breeze.
Then she spotted her—Bella, walking slowly alongside a patient, gently guiding them as they took small steps through the grass.
Savannah moved swiftly toward them, her pace brisk yet quiet, until she was just behind them.
"There you are," Savannah said, her voice light but clearly relieved.
Bella turned at the sound, blinking in surprise. "You were looking for me?" she asked, glancing between Savannah and the patient beside her.
Savannah nodded, her eyes briefly flicking to the patient as she offered a small, polite smile before turning back to Bella. "Can we talk for a moment?" she asked softly.
Bella, picking up on the seriousness in her voice, gently patted the patient's shoulder. "Let's take a break for a bit, okay?" she suggested, motioning to another nurse nearby who came over to help.
Before long, Savannah and Bella found themselves seated on a quiet bench nestled under a blooming tree in the backyard, just far enough from the others to have a private conversation. Sunlight danced across the garden, illuminating the patients wandering nearby, while laughter and soft chatter filled the air. Yet, Savannah's heart felt anything but calm.
Bella leaned in slightly, her gaze fixed on her friend. "Alright," she said, studying Savannah's face. "What's going on?"
Savannah hesitated, her eyes focused straight ahead—on an elderly patient smiling at a bird that flew by, on a child giggling next to a grandmother in a wheelchair. Everything seemed so peaceful, so normal.
"I need your help," Savannah finally whispered, her voice so soft that Bella almost didn't catch it.
Bella blinked, taken aback. "My help?" she repeated, pointing at herself with disbelief, "You-you need my help?" she chuckled, half-joking. "Savannah Baldwin, the best doctor in this whole hospital, the woman who performs heart surgeries like she's sipping tea, you need me?" she smiled, amused, clearly thinking it was a joke.
But Savannah didn't return the smile. Her face remained serious, and that silence spoke volumes.
Bella's grin slowly faded as she straightened up. "Wait... are you serious?"
Savannah nodded, her eyes locking onto Bella's.
Bella's brows knitted together. "Okay, tell me. What kind of help do you need?"
Savannah hesitated, her fingers nervously fiddling with the hem of her coat, her heart feeling heavy. "Can you... take someone in?" she asked, her tone almost apologetic. "Into your home?"
Bella blinked, trying to wrap her head around the request. "That's it? That's the help you need?"
Savannah nodded again. "Yes. It's important. She needs a place to stay. Somewhere safe."
Bella leaned back, relaxing slightly. "Of course. That's not even a question. Who is this person I'm housing?"
Savannah glanced down at her hands, feeling a mix of emotions. "A friend of mine," she said softly. "Her name's Anastasia."
Bella nodded eagerly. "She can move in today if she wants. No problem at all. Your friend is my friend, Savannah. She's always welcome here."
Savannah managed a small, grateful smile, but inside, a storm was brewing. A part of her couldn't help but wonder—was this really the right choice? Would Bella be safe? She was unknowingly stepping into a world filled with shadows. And Savannah hadn't shared the whole truth with her—not yet.
Her chest tightened with worry.
She didn't want to pull Bella into this mess. She didn't want another innocent person caught in the tangled web of her life with Blaze. But Anastasia needed a safe place, and Savannah craved someone she could trust completely.
And Bella—loyal, bright, and brave—was the only one who came to mind.
As Bella turned her gaze to the sky, excitedly talking about how she'd prepare the guest room and whip up something special for their visitor, Savannah stayed quiet beside her. Her hands rested in her lap, but her knuckles were white from gripping them so tightly.
She felt torn.
But for now, at least, Anastasia would be safe.
And in that moment... that was enough.
Later at Night
Night had softly settled over the city, wrapping the hospital in a peaceful calm. The fluorescent lights inside dimmed a bit as the final shift came to an end. The gentle hum of departing staff and the soft whispers of patients getting cozy for the night created a familiar lull that always followed a long day.
Savannah stepped out of the hospital doors, the cool night breeze brushing against her face. Beside her, Bella walked quietly, seemingly lost in her thoughts. Their heels clicked lightly on the concrete as they made their way down the steps together.
In the distance, at the very edge of the drop-off zone, stood a tall, familiar figure, leaning against the sleek black car as though he'd been waiting for hours. Blaze. His dark suit almost merged into the night, save for the subtle gleam of the luxury car behind him.
Savannah's gaze flicked toward him, but her expression stayed unreadable. Next to her, Bella followed her line of sight, and her face shifted ever so slightly.
There he was again. Just like always.
Every single day.
Without fail.
"I still can't wrap my head around it," Bella murmured, leaning in a bit closer. "I mean—he's Blaze Baldwin. He looks like he walked right out of a Forbes magazine." She let out a soft chuckle, a hint of awe in her voice. "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I'd think you were playing some kind of elaborate joke on me."
Savannah stayed silent, her lips pressed into a thin line.
Bella turned to her, catching a fleeting glimpse of something unreadable in her friend's eyes—something that didn't quite fit with the idea of being adored by someone like Blaze. But she brushed it off, thinking it might just be fatigue.
"Make sure to take care of yourself, okay?" Savannah finally spoke, her voice soft yet layered with meaning. Then, with the slightest flicker of her eyes—a subtle gesture only someone who truly knew her would notice—she sent Bella a silent message.
Bella's expression softened with understanding. She nodded. "Good night. See you tomorrow."
They shared a quick hug, Bella holding on a moment longer than usual, just enough to show she cared, before stepping back and walking away, her figure fading into the shadows of the parking lot.
As she glanced back one last time, she spotted Blaze again—his posture still confident, his gaze locked solely on Savannah. Bella offered him a small, polite wave, which he returned with a subtle nod.
They really are together, Bella thought. And he truly does love her.
She smiled, blissfully unaware of the truth lurking just beneath the surface, and slipped away into the night.
At the edge of the lot, Savannah took a deep breath before making her way toward him. Each step felt heavier than the last. Her heart raced with every stride—not from love, but from the burden of secrets, the facade she wore, and the cage that still clung to her tightly.
When she finally reached him, Blaze straightened up from the car, his gaze drinking her in as if she were the only thing that mattered in the world.
"You sure took your time today," he said with a casual tone, though there was a possessive edge to his voice that made Savannah flinch inside.
"Lost track of time," she replied, keeping her tone as neutral as possible.
He nodded slowly. "Take your time. I can wait longer," he said with a slight smile, locking his eyes onto hers.
In that moment, the way he looked at her sent a shiver down her spine. He regarded her as if he owned her, as if she were a possession rather than his wife. It felt less like patience and more like a display of control.
She felt suffocated. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't smile. Couldn't pretend any longer.
He stepped closer and, without asking, wrapped his arms around her in what should have been a warm, loving embrace.
But Savannah... she remained still.
Her arms hung limply at her sides. Her eyes were wide open, staring past his shoulder into the vast emptiness of the night. There was no solace in his touch, only a sense of suffocation. Her body was present, but her spirit, her heart—they were somewhere far away. Somewhere he couldn't reach. Somewhere she could still dream of freedom.
Blaze didn't seem to notice.
Or maybe... he did. And simply didn't care.
They stood there like that—him holding on, her frozen in place as the wind whispered through the trees, and the night closed in around them like a secret yearning to be set free.
Author's Note :
Thankyou for reading<3
Have a good day/night<3<3