A veil of hearts

•Welcome to Finland•

14

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Joshua's POV

The crisp Finnish air hit us as we stepped off the plane in Helsinki, a stark contrast to the stuffy cabin we'd left behind. I watched as my students filed out onto the tarmac, their excitement visible in the puffs of condensation that escaped their lips with each excited exclamation.

Aina was among the first to descend, her hijab fluttering in the brisk wind. Her eyes widened as she took in the snow-covered landscape, a look of wonder mixed with something deeper - a flicker of recognition, perhaps?

"Welcome to Finland," I announced, trying to keep my voice steady despite the surge of emotions I felt watching Aina. "I hope you're all prepared for an incredible experience at the medical camp."

Noor and Bella huddled together, giggling as they adjusted their scarves. Kaif and Liam followed, their usual banter momentarily silenced by the awe of their surroundings.

As our bus wound its way through the snow-covered Finnish landscape, the excitement among the students was palpable. Noor and Bella chatted animatedly about the upcoming medical camp, while Kaif and Liam debated the merits of various surgical techniques they hoped to observe.

But my attention remained fixed on Aina, seated quietly beside me. Her eyes never left the window, drinking in the scenery with an intensity that seemed to go beyond mere tourist curiosity.

"Aina," I said softly, careful not to draw the attention of the others. "You seem... affected by all this. Are you alright?"

She turned to me, her eyes shimmering with an emotion I couldn't quite place. "I'm fine, Professor. It's just... everything feels so familiar. Like a dream I can't quite remember."

Her words sent a chill down my spine that had nothing to do with the Finnish winter. Before I could respond, the bus lurched to a stop.

"We're here!" Professor Meghan announced cheerfully from the front. "Welcome to the Kuopio University Hospital and Medical Research Center!"

As we disembarked, I couldn't help but notice how Aina's feet seemed to find their way across the icy pavement with surprising sureness, as if she'd walked this path a hundred times before.

The medical camp coordinator, Dr. Mäkinen, greeted us at the entrance. "Tervetuloa! Welcome to Finland," she said with a warm smile. "We're excited to have you all here."

As Dr. Mäkinen led us on a tour of the facilities, I kept a watchful eye on Aina. She moved through the halls with an ease that belied her supposed unfamiliarity with the place. At one point, she even anticipated a turn before Dr. Mäkinen indicated it, drawing a curious glance from our guide.

"You seem to know your way around, Ms. Yılmaz," Dr. Mäkinen observed. "Have you been here before?"

Aina's face paled slightly. "No, I... I don't think so. It just feels... familiar somehow."

I quickly interjected, "Aina's one of our most intuitive students. She has a knack for understanding layouts quickly."

Dr. Mäkinen nodded, seemingly satisfied with the explanation, but I caught a flicker of something – recognition, perhaps? – in her eyes as she regarded Aina.

As we settled into our accommodations for the night, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were on the brink of something significant. Aina's reactions to Finland, the ease with which she navigated this supposedly unfamiliar environment – it all pointed to a past here that she couldn't remember.