𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝑰𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 36

The doctor's office was quiet, the sterile scent of antiseptic filling the air as I sat across from Lucía, who was tapping her foot in a rapid, nervous rhythm. She shot me an encouraging smile, her usual warmth dimmed just slightly by the obvious tension lingering in the room. This was supposed to be a day of hope, a step forward toward everything Nico and I had once talked about, yet everything felt wrong.

Nico was already here, waiting when we walked in, and now he stood by my side, his hand hovering near my shoulder. His gaze felt heavy, fixed on me with an intensity that was impossible to ignore.

"Sophia," he began, his voice low, a mix of urgency and restraint, "are you sure about this?" His hand found my shoulder then, and his touch sent a spark up my spine, unwelcome and familiar, a reminder of all the things I was trying so hard to compartmentalize. "Can we talk, please? Just... really talk?"

For a brief moment, I glanced up, my eyes meeting his. That old spark was still there, simmering beneath the surface despite everything, but I couldn't let it distract me. I gave a slight shake of my head, pulling my gaze away from him and forcing myself to focus. "I'm here for a reason, Nico," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, detached. "Let's just get this over with."

Lucía's hand slipped into mine, a silent reminder that I didn't have to do this alone, and I gave her fingers a grateful squeeze. Dr. Drakos entered the room with a calm smile, nodding at Nico and me before sitting down, flipping through some paperwork.

"Alright," he said, clearing his throat as he settled in. "So, we're here today to go over the details of the procedure and to answer any last questions you may have."

I nodded, my focus solely on the doctor now. He began explaining the process, the steps involved, and the timetable we'd be working with. His voice was steady, soothing, and I found myself clinging to every clinical detail as if it could ground me in the reality of the situation.

Nico was still beside me, listening intently, though his hand dropped back to his side, as if he'd sensed my reluctance. His gaze never left me, and I could feel it, even as I forced myself to keep my attention on Dr. Drakos.

"There's a good chance of success with the first attempt," Dr. Drakos was saying, his calm tone somehow reassuring. "However, as we know, it sometimes takes a few rounds. We'll monitor things closely and make any necessary adjustments as we go."

I nodded again, murmuring my understanding. Nico shifted beside me, clearing his throat. "Thank you, doctor. I know it's a lot to cover." He glanced my way, his voice dropping slightly, "But maybe we should pause for a moment."

I stiffened, my heartbeat quickening as he turned to me again, his expression soft but serious. "Sophia... are you really sure about this?" His voice was barely above a whisper. "Because I'm not. I don't want this to be something you feel you have to do, not like this. Not when we-"

I shook my head again, cutting him off before he could finish. "I know what I want, Nico," I said, keeping my tone as even as possible, though I felt my heart twist painfully in my chest. "We've made this decision. There's no need to second-guess it now."

Lucía's grip on my hand tightened, her silent support anchoring me as I struggled to hold myself together.

Dr. Drakos gave a gentle nod, his gaze flicking between Nico and me as he continued, tactfully ignoring the tension in the air. "In that case, we'll proceed with the preparations. I'll have the nurses bring in the necessary documents, and we can get started with the initial steps today."

Nico's jaw tightened, his gaze dropping to the floor as if he was trying to rein in the words I knew he wanted to say. But he stayed silent, his shoulders tense as he settled back into his chair. I tried to ignore the ache in my chest, the familiar longing to reach out to him and close the gap between us, but I reminded myself why I was doing this.