"Thank you for your help today, Nurse Onika," Dr. Conrad said with a light smile as he took off his gear and started washing his hands at the sink. I was doing the same, letting the water run over my fingers, rinsing off.
I nodded, a quiet smile tugging at my lips. "I wouldn't be okay with myself if it didn't come out that way," I said, switching off the faucet and reaching for a towel.
The rush of relief from a successful surgery mixed with the exhaustion settling into my bones.
He looked like he was about to say something else, but Shelly burst into the room, her face lit up with excitement.
"Girl, you're going to want to see this!" she blurted, grabbing my arm and pulling me away before I could protest.
"Shelly!" I laughed, half-stumbling to keep up with her pace. "I was in the middle of a conversation."
"Trust me, this is way better!" She led me out to the hospital lobby, where I stopped dead in my tracks.
There, right in the middle of the room, stood three massive teddy bears made entirely of red roses.
They were almost surreal, like something out of a movie. The scent of roses filled the air, and I could feel every pair of eyes in the lobby on me as I took in the display.
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"Wait," I stammered, still taking in the scene. "These are... for me?"
Shelly grinned, giving me a little nudge. "Oh, they're definitely for you."
I glanced around, almost in disbelief, before I noticed a small card tucked into one of the rose bears. My fingers shook a little as I pulled it out and opened it.
I'm wishing a beautiful lady like you, a beautiful day on your first day back. You got this Nicki.
~ Sincerely from, the boy.
Of course, it was from Aubrey. I could feel my cheeks flush as I read his note. Despite everything, he still knew exactly how to surprise me, how to bring that rush of warmth into my day.
"Looks like someone's got a secret admirer," Shelly teased, raising her eyebrows.
I just smiled, running my fingers over the soft petals of the roses.
"Who are these from, girl?" Shelly asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
I chuckled, tucking the card back into its spot, feeling a secret thrill that only I could understand. "I'm not telling," I replied, a smirk playing on my lips.
Shelly nudged me, clearly dying to know. "Oh, come on! You can't leave me hanging like that. Somebody's really putting in the effort here. These are serious romantic vibes!"
