Another Day With You | AnunKamol

Chapter 1: Our Past

The blaring sirens of an ambulance pierced the night, a familiar sound that had long become a part of Lily's life. The ER was bustling with activity, nurses and doctors moving with practised urgency. Amidst the chaos, Dr. Lily remained a pillar of calm efficiency, her focus unwavering as she attended to a patient with a severe laceration.

"Doctor, we need you in Trauma 2," Paige, a young nurse with a bright yet concerned expression, called out.

Lily nodded, quickly wrapping up her current task and heading towards Trauma 2. As she walked, the familiar hum of the hospital surrounded her, a constant reminder of her chosen refuge. It was here, among the controlled chaos and life-saving interventions, that she found a semblance of peace, a distraction from the ache that had never truly left her.

Years earlier, laughter echoed through a sunlit studio, the walls adorned with vibrant, unfinished canvases. Ayden, with her paint-splattered overalls and unruly hair, stood before an easel, her eyes bright with passion as she worked on her latest piece. Lily watched her from a nearby couch, a medical textbook in her lap, smiling at the sight of her girlfriend lost in her art.

"Come here, Lily. Let me paint you," Ayden teased, her voice a melodic contrast to the classical music playing softly in the background.

Lily laughed, shaking her head. "I'm not a model, Ayden. I'm a doctor. Stick to painting your flowers and landscapes."

Ayden pouted, setting down her brush and crossing the room to sit beside Lily. "You're more beautiful than any flower, you know."

Lily's heart swelled with warmth, and she leaned in to kiss Ayden, their lips meeting in a tender embrace. In that moment, everything felt perfect, their love a sanctuary from the world outside.

"Doctor Lily, we need you here," Paige's voice brought Lily back to the present. She shook off the memories and stepped into Trauma 2, where a young man lay unconscious, his vitals unstable.

As she worked, her mind drifted back to the studio, to the days when Ayden's laughter filled her world. She hadn't seen Ayden in years, their once unbreakable bond shattered by misunderstandings and personal trauma. The pain of their separation lingered, buried beneath layers of professional dedication and emotional detachment.

In a dimly lit loft, Ayden sat before a large canvas, her brush moving with purpose as she poured her emotions into her art. Each stroke was a reflection of her inner feelings, the vibrant colours clashing in a chaotic dance. Her mind wandered to the past, to the love she had lost and the emptiness that had followed.

She remembered the day Lily left, their final argument echoing in her mind. They had fought over something trivial, but the underlying issues had been much deeper.

"You don't understand, Lily! You're always at the hospital, always too busy for us!" Ayden had shouted, tears streaming down her face.

"And you think your art is more important? We both have our passions, Ayden. Why can't you see that?" Lily had retorted, her voice tinged with frustration.

The argument had escalated, harsh words exchanged that could never be taken back. In the end, Lily had walked out, leaving Ayden alone with her broken heart and an empty studio.

Now, as Ayden stepped back to admire her work, she felt a pang of longing. Her art was her escape, just as the ER was for Lily. They were miles apart emotionally, yet their hearts still beat with the same ache.

Ayden set down her brush and stared out the window, the city lights twinkling in the distance. She wondered if Lily ever thought of her, if she felt the same emptiness that Ayden did. Despite the years and the distance, the love she had for Lily had never truly faded.

Back in the ER, Lily finished stabilising the patient and stepped out of the trauma room, her shoulders heavy with exhaustion. She glanced at the clock—it was well past midnight. As she walked to the break room for a moment of rest, her mind drifted once more to Ayden. She wondered where Ayden was, what she was doing, if she was happy.

The emotional distance between them was vast, but the memories of their love were still vivid, haunting Lily's every step. As she sipped her coffee, she couldn't help but feel that their story was far from over, that the memories of their past were still shaping their present.

In a city that never slept, two hearts continued to beat in sync, separated by misunderstandings and personal trauma, yet united by an unbreakable bond.