"𝕾𝖊𝖗𝖊𝖓𝖆𝖉𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕾𝖔𝖚𝖑"

I

Morana's point of view:

I pushed through the hospital's automatic doors, stepping into the late afternoon sunlight. The brightness stung my eyes, and I squinted, raising a hand instinctively to shield my face.

The air outside felt different—fresh, yet heavy with the smell of hot asphalt, car exhaust, and something faintly floral from a nearby tree. It was a stark contrast to the sterile scent of antiseptic and stale coffee that always lingered inside.

This wasn't my first time leaving the hospital. I'd lost count of how many times I'd walked through those doors—weekly checkups, monthly tests, the occasional longer stay when my heart decided to misbehave. But every time, I felt a little lighter, like I was escaping something invisible. Something that always tried to pull me back in.

I could already feel the weight of my thoughts creeping in. My brain was a constant whirlpool of overthinking. Right now, it was stuck on the doctor's words from my last checkup: "Your condition is stable, but remember to take it easy."

Take it easy. As if my life hadn't been one long series of precautions. Don't run. Don't stress. Don't get too excited. Don't live too much, just in case. I muttered to myself, shaking my head. "Take it easy." Sure, let me just add that to my growing list of things to do.

I was halfway down the block when it happened. Something large and furry barreled into my legs, knocking me off balance. My heart raced as I nearly dropped my bag.

"What the—" I started, looking down to find a massive German shepherd wagging its tail as if it had just won the lottery. The dog looked up at me with big brown eyes, tongue hanging out, and a goofy grin on its face. It barked once, and I froze, my chest tightening.

Oh no. Not a dog. Not today. I stared at the creature, my heart thudding in my chest.

"You're a dog. And you're touching me. Why are you touching me?"

The dog barked again, as if asking, "Why aren't you petting me yet?" The sound echoed in my ears, and I froze, panic creeping into my veins. Dogs. I hated them.

Before I could react, a man jogged up, slightly out of breath, grabbing the dog's leash and giving it a firm tug. "Zeus! Sit."

Zeus, huh? That's the last thing I needed today. The dog sat down obediently, still looking way too pleased with itself.

"Sorry about that," the man said, smiling at me. "Zeus has no sense of personal space. He thinks everyone wants to be his best friend."

I crossed my arms, trying to keep my breathing steady, forcing a casual tone even though I felt my pulse racing. "Zeus, huh? Interesting name for a dog."

"What can I say?" the man grinned, clearly amused by my stiff demeanor. "He's got a god complex."

I snorted before I could stop myself, and the man's smile widened, clearly pleased by my reaction.

"I'm Nate," he said, holding out his hand.

"Morana," I replied, my eyes darting down to his outstretched hand, then quickly looking away. "And I'm late, so if your dog could stop trying to adopt me, that'd be great."

Nate chuckled, unbothered by my bluntness. "Fair enough. But for the record, you're the first person he's done this with today. Must mean something."

I forced a tight smile, stepping around him. "It means I smell like hospital soap."

"Maybe," he called after me, "or maybe you just have a thing for gods."

I rolled my eyes but didn't bother to look back. "Goodbye, Zeus. Try not to smite anyone."

As I walked away, I could hear Nate's laughter lingering in the air, mixing with the distant hum of traffic. I quickened my pace, eager to get away from the dog—and from the man who had somehow managed to make me forget for a second about my worries.

The orphanage loomed ahead, its faded brick walls standing stark against the chaos of the city. It wasn't home, not really, but it was where I went. Where I slept. Where I waited for whatever came next.

I stopped just outside the gate, my hand tightening around my bag strap. The familiar weight of it settled over me, and for a moment, I let myself breathe. "One step at a time," I whispered under my breath. That's what the doctor had said. That's what everyone always said. But today, for the first time, I didn't hear it as a warning. I heard it as a challenge.

With a deep breath, I pushed open the gate and walked inside, determined to make this day count for something more.

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First chapter is out. I'm incredibly excited about this book! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I know there's always room for improvement in my writing, and I eagerly anticipate growing with each chapter.

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Sending you all my warmest regards and gratitude <3

-M