His name was Nathaniel

67

Adaliya stirred awake, blinking groggily as the sunlight filtered through the curtains of her bedroom. She stretched lazily, the warmth of the morning wrapping around her like a comforting blanket. But as she rolled over, the spot beside her was empty. Nathaniel was gone.

For a moment, her heart sank with disappointment. She had grown so used to waking up with him beside her that the emptiness now felt stark. But then her eyes caught sight of a small note left on the pillow next to her. Curious, she sat up and reached for it, unfolding the neatly written message.

Adaliya,
I'm sorry I had to leave early. I didn't want to wake you—you looked too peaceful.
I also want to apologize for last night. Thank you for listening to me, for being there. I didn't realize how much I needed to get that off my chest. You mean more to me than I can say, and I hope we can talk more when I see you next.
—Nathaniel

Adaliya smiled softly, her heart warming at his words. Nathaniel wasn't the type to open up easily, but the fact that he had allowed himself to be vulnerable with her meant more than she could express. She held the note for a moment longer, letting the warmth of his gratitude sink in before carefully folding it and placing it on her nightstand.

With a renewed sense of energy, she got out of bed, her earlier disappointment replaced by a sense of happiness and motivation. Nathaniel's note had lifted her spirits, and as she went about her morning routine, she found herself thinking of him more and more. Things between them were starting to shift, and for the first time, she felt truly hopeful about where they were headed.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel sat in the doctor's office, shirtless and feeling the familiar stir of anxiety in his chest as the cold stethoscope pressed against his skin. His annual check-ups were routine by now, something he had been doing for years, but the discomfort never went away. Being half-naked and under the scrutinizing eyes of his doctors always left him feeling vulnerable, a feeling he wasn't fond of.

The doctor hummed quietly as he continued his examination, checking Nathaniel's heart rate, lungs, and other vitals with practiced ease. Nathaniel kept his gaze fixed on the ceiling, willing himself to stay calm. Despite how many times he had been through this, the fear of bad news always lurked in the back of his mind.

"Everything looks good," the doctor finally said, snapping off his gloves and scribbling something on his clipboard. "No concerns this time, Nathaniel. Your weight gain is a good sign, too."

Nathaniel let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "So, nothing wrong?"

The doctor shook his head. "Nope, nothing to worry about. In fact, I'm pleased with the progress you've made. But I do need to remind you—stay away from stress. You know how it affects your health. Keep that in mind, especially given your family's history."

Nathaniel nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. It wasn't easy to keep his life stress-free, especially with the pressure his father constantly put on him, but hearing that his health was stable for now eased some of the weight on his shoulders.

"Thanks, Doctor," Nathaniel said as he got dressed, his anxiety slowly subsiding.

The doctor gave him a firm pat on the back. "Just keep doing what you're doing. And remember, stress is your enemy."

Nathaniel smiled faintly as he left the office, feeling lighter than he had in days. With his health in check and the doctor's words still fresh in his mind, he decided to treat himself to a peaceful drive around the city.

As he drove, his mind drifted to Adaliya. He hadn't stopped thinking about her since he left her apartment that morning, the warmth of her hug and the comfort of her presence still lingering in his thoughts. She had been there for him in a way no one else had, and it made him realize just how much she meant to him.

It was then that he noticed a small jewelry store on the corner of the street. Nathaniel wasn't the kind of man to be drawn to jewelry, but something about the display in the window caught his attention. A modest but beautiful necklace, simple yet elegant, glimmered under the soft lights. It wasn't overly flashy or ornate—it was perfect. And it reminded him of Adaliya.

Without a second thought, Nathaniel pulled over and parked, walking into the store. The clerk greeted him with a polite smile, but Nathaniel barely noticed. His eyes were locked on the necklace.

"I'll take that one," he said, pointing to it.

The clerk blinked in surprise. "That's actually the most expensive item in the store, sir."

Nathaniel didn't flinch. "That's fine. Wrap it up."

As the clerk carefully packaged the necklace, Nathaniel's mind raced. He hadn't planned on buying anything today, let alone jewelry, but something about the necklace felt right. It felt like a way to show Adaliya how much she meant to him, how much he appreciated her presence in his life.

With the necklace in hand, Nathaniel left the store, a plan already forming in his mind. He was going to ask Adaliya out again—this time, officially. He wanted to know if she was ready to take their relationship to the next level, and the necklace felt like the perfect way to express that.

As he drove away, a sense of calm settled over him. For the first time in a long while, the future didn't seem so uncertain.