Embracing Love [✓]

ᶠⁱᵛᵉ ✓

I wanted salvation
But instead, I became a prisoner of despair.
I wanted to shout
But no one was there to listen.

The warmth
That always wrapped around me,
The loneliness and longing
That keeps knocking at me like rain,
The pain
That couldn't hide my empty soul
Lift me and lead me here.

A place
Which now became a cold place
Like a tomb.
A place
Which is filled with sad screams.

It has now become a nightmare
Which feels like a deeper hole
Where I'm trapped
Broken, torn up and scarred.

~ Ayana.

■■■

"Ma'am!"
Running behind Ayana, Ciam called her.

"Yes?"
Ayana looked at him. Her eyes were covered with dark circles. Yesterday she had late night surgeries and after that, she had to stay the night at the hospital. She barely got any sleep.

"About yesterday's surgery, I had a question."
Ciam asked about the surgery he assisted Ayana with.

"Weren't you supposed to ask any questions related to it yesterday?"
Ayana frowned. She just wanted to go home and lie on the bed. She was beyond exhausted.
"Why are you asking now?"

Ciam looked down nervously. After the surgery, instead of studying about it, he directly went to bed and slept.

"Anyways, ask away. Be quick."
Saying Ayana started walking followed by Ciam.

While answering the questions of Ciam, Ayana was walking towards the exit when suddenly she halted seeing the familiar person in front of her. Ciam also stopped walking and then following Ayana's gaze looked at the front only to spot an unfamiliar woman.

"I'll answer the rest of your questions tomorrow. For now, you can go."
Ayana looked at Ciam who nodded before walking away.

"Long time no see."
The woman, Nila, walked towards Ayana with a smirk.

"Indeed. It's been so long since we last saw each other."
Ayana nodded as an acknowledgment.
"Welcome back."

"Thank you."

"The director must be in his office. You can go and greet him."
Saying Ayana was about to brush past her when Nila spoke.

"I heard about it. About what happened to you and..."
Looking at Ayana, she said.
"... Zafar."

Ayana froze in her place.

"I would be lying if I say I wasn't shocked to learn about how your love story turned out to be a tragic story."
Ayana clenched her fist.

"Who's she? I have never seen her before."
Ciam, who was standing a bit away, asked one of the nurses.

"She's Dr. Nila. The director's daughter."
The nurse informed him.
"She went abroad for further studies."

"She and Dr. Ayana had been a rival since their college days."
The nurse added.

"Rival?"

"Dr. Ayana has always scored first in the exams whereas Dr. Nila was the second."
The nurse added.
"Even now Dr. Ayana is considered as the best pediatrician of the hospital whereas Dr. Nila is the second best."