Another Day With You | AnunKamol

Chapter 2: Shattered Nights

The storm hit with a ferocity that caught the city off guard. Rain lashed against windows, lightning illuminated the sky, and the thunder roared as if the heavens themselves were in a fight. The ER was already busy, but the storm brought a wave of emergencies that pushed the staff to their limits.

Lily moved with practised efficiency, her mind focused on the tasks at hand. The chaos of the ER was her sanctuary, a place where she could lose herself in the work and forget the pain that lingered in her heart. But tonight, something felt different, a sense of impending change hanging in the air.

"Doctor Lily, incoming trauma," Paige called out, her voice strained with urgency. "Car accident, multiple injuries."

Lily nodded, her heart quickening as she prepared for the incoming patients. The doors burst open, and paramedics rushed in, wheeling stretchers through the crowded hallway. The first patient, a middle-aged man with a head wound, was quickly assessed and taken to surgery. The second stretcher brought a young woman, her face obscured by an oxygen mask, her body limp and lifeless.

As Lily approached, ready to take over, she froze. Through the blood and bruises, she recognized the face she had once known so well. Ayden. Her heart skipped a beat, a rush of emotions flooding her senses. She hadn't seen Ayden in years, and now here she was, vulnerable and hurt.

"Lily?" Paige's voice cut through the fog. "Are you okay?"

Lily snapped back to reality, forcing herself to focus. "Yes, I'm fine. Let's get her stabilized."

She stepped into her role, her hands steady despite the unease inside. Ayden's vitals were weak, her injuries severe. Lily worked quickly, her mind a swimming of memories and fears. She couldn't afford to falter now. Ayden needed her.

Paige watched them, her curiosity piqued by the tension she sensed. She had never seen Lily so rattled, so emotionally engaged. As they worked together, Paige noticed the way Lily's eyes lingered on Ayden, a mixture of pain and longing evident in her gaze.

Hours later, Ayden was stabilised and moved to the ICU. Lily took a moment to breathe, her mind still reeling from the encounter. She stood by Ayden's bedside, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest, the rhythmic beep of the heart monitor a stark contrast to the storm raging outside.

"Lily, are you sure you're okay?" Paige asked gently, stepping into the room.

Lily nodded, though she felt anything but okay. "I'll be fine, Paige. Thank you for your help."

Paige hesitated, then nodded, sensing that now wasn't the time to press further. She left the room quietly, leaving Lily alone with her thoughts.

As the storm continued to rage outside, Lily sat by Ayden's bedside, memories flooding back. She remembered their laughter, their arguments, the love they had shared. She had buried herself in work to escape the pain of losing Ayden, but seeing her now brought it all back, raw and unfiltered.

"Another day with you, please give me one day," Lily whispered, her voice barely audible above the hum of the machines. She reached out, gently taking Ayden's hand in hers, tears welling up in her eyes.

The storm outside mirrored the storm within her heart, but for the first time in years, she allowed herself to feel the depth of her emotions. She had spent so long running from the past, but now, sitting here with Ayden, she realised that she couldn't escape it forever.

As the night wore on, Lily stayed by Ayden's side, silently pleading for one more chance, one more day to make things right. The storm would pass, but the journey they faced was just beginning.