Another Day With You | AnunKamol

Chapter 5: Flowers, Cake & My GF

The days at medical school were long and tedious for Lily, filled with endless lectures, gruelling lab sessions, and the constant pressure of exams. Yet, every evening, no matter how tired she was or how overwhelming the day had been, there was a bright spot she eagerly anticipated: Ayden's visits.

It started as a simple gesture. Ayden would show up at the dormitory doorstep with a small bouquet of wildflowers and a slice of cake from the local bakery. The first time it happened, Lily was taken aback by the sheer thoughtfulness of it.

"You need to take breaks, Lily," Ayden had said, handing her the flowers and cake with a playful smile. "Doctor's orders."

At first, Lily had protested, claiming she had no time for such indulgences. But Ayden was persistent, her bright smile and silly antics wearing down Lily's defences. It became their routine: Ayden would appear with her daily offerings, and they would sit together, sharing the cake and talking about their days.

One evening, after a particularly gruelling anatomy exam, Lily trudged back to her dorm, her shoulders slumped with exhaustion. As she reached her door, she found Ayden waiting for her, a larger-than-usual bouquet in one hand and an entire cake box in the other.

"Rough day?" Ayden asked, her eyes full of understanding.

Lily sighed, dropping her bag and taking the flowers. "You have no idea."

"Well then, this calls for extra cake," Ayden declared, pulling Lily into a hug. "Come on, let's go inside."

They settled on the floor of Lily's tiny dorm room, the cake between them. As they shared the sweet treat, Ayden entertained Lily with funny stories and dramatic retellings of her latest art projects. Lily found herself laughing, the weight of the day lifting with each of Ayden's antics.

"You always know how to make me smile," Lily said, looking at Ayden with gratitude. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Good thing you won't have to find out," Ayden replied, her eyes twinkling.

Months turned into years, and Lily's graduation day finally arrived. It was a bright, sunny day, and the campus was filled with excitement. Lily stood with her classmates, her heart swelling with pride and relief. She had made it.

As the ceremony concluded and caps were tossed into the air, Lily looked around, searching for Ayden. She spotted her in the crowd, holding a sign that read "Congratulations, Dr. Lily!" in bright, colorful letters. Ayden's face was alight with joy, and she waved enthusiastically.

Lily laughed, making her way through the crowds of people to where Ayden stood. "You're something else, Ayden," she said, shaking her head in amusement.

"You haven't seen anything yet," Ayden replied, her smile growing even wider.

Before Lily could ask what she meant, she heard the sound of drums and trumpets. She turned to see a small parade marching towards them, complete with a marching band and dancers. Lily's jaw dropped in astonishment.

"Ayden, what...?" she began, but Ayden was already pulling her towards the parade.

As they reached the front of the procession, Ayden took Lily's hands in hers, her expression suddenly serious. "Lily, you've worked so hard and achieved so much. You're the most amazing person I know, and I'm so proud of you."

Lily felt tears welling up in her eyes. "Ayden..."

Ayden took a deep breath, then got down on one knee, pulling out a small box from her pocket. "Lily, will you be my girlfriend?"

The crowd around them cheered, and Lily felt her heart swell with emotion. She looked down at Ayden, her eyes shining with love and joy. "Yes, Ayden," she said, her voice trembling. "Yes, I will."

Ayden sprang to her feet, pulling Lily into a tight embrace as the parade continued around them. They kissed, the world melting away in that perfect moment.

Back in the present, Lily sat by Ayden's hospital bed, her mind drifting back to that day. The memory of Ayden's grand gesture and the overwhelming love she had felt was a bittersweet reminder of what they had once shared.

"Can we ever get back to that?" Lily wondered aloud, her voice barely more than a whisper. She looked at Ayden, her heart aching with the weight of their past and the uncertainty of their future.

But as she watched Ayden sleep, the steady rise and fall of her chest, Lily felt a flicker of hope. They had overcome so much together, and despite the pain and distance that had come between them, the love they had shared still lingered.

"One day at a time," Lily reminded herself. "We'll find our way back."