𝐔𝐧𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞.

𝐊𝐀𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄

Maxine's POV

I woke up to the deafening ring of my alarm clock. The annoying beeping pulled me from restless sleep. I fumbled my hand to turn it off, and rubbing my face, I groaned softly against the sunlight seeping through the curtains. It was another day, another chance to face the weight of my feelings.

Drag myself out of bed, go to the bathroom. Cold water splashes in my face, and I'm jolted awake. All of a sudden I was caught up in the routine - brushing my teeth, washing my face, and stepping into the shower. Warm water rushes down on me, washing away that remainder of the dream I could hardly recall.

After about a few minutes in the tub, I came out, threw on a towel. My face stared at me from the steamy glass. "Today," I told myself, "maybe today will be different."

I dried my hair and began applying my makeup. Then, I proceeded to rummage through my closet, looking for something decent to wear. Casual yet not too casual. It had to be perfect-not for anyone else, but for her.

I could almost still see the flash of her smile in my mind. Last night had been like something out of a storybook with the two of us walking along side by side, talking about nothing and everything. Her laugh was still like soft, warm music stuck in my head.

But I didn't say it. The words I'd practiced a thousand times were beyond my lips. I'd had the perfect chance to tell her how I felt, but instead I said nothing.

Now, as I stood in front of my mirror, I couldn't shake the thought. I'm at Theo's position right now. Just like him, holding back, watching and waiting. But how long could I stay in the background, letting moments slip away?

I grabbed my bag and walked out the door. Cold morning air hit me as I walked down the dead street. My mind was filled with questions. Would today be the day I said something for myself, or would my emotions remain locked in, where they could fester?

The world around me was moving but felt like it was motionless. It seemed as though the hands of time had tied me to the "what ifs" of the previous night. I had no choice but to keep moving forward with hope that an answer would come to my mind before it was too late.

--

I walked to work at the hospital. It was one of those crisp mornings with cold that pushed through your skin but had a clarifying effect on the mind. Bustling people were milling around the entrance, nurses and patients with staff saying good morning as I passed by.
"Good morning, Doctor," one of them had shouted.

I nodded with a small smile, my pace steady as I headed to the office. It was always the same-faces full of hope, fear, or exhaustion waiting for me. Waiting for their doctor.

But as I turned the first corner, I froze. A familiar face stopped me in my tracks.

Ms. Del Fuego.

She was just standing there, so impassive, but the aura that surrounded her was enough to stir a wave of emotions through me. Her eyes flickered over mine and then dropped, something having stirred in my chest-a surprise mixed up with a pain that I couldn't identify.

Didn't we had a session yesterday?, but here she was. What was she doing here? My mind raced to come up with answers as my heart pounded with every passing moment.

"Doctor," a nurse called from behind me, jerking me back to reality. I blinked, realizing I had stopped walking.

"Coming," I said hastily but my eyes strayed one more moment to Ms. Del Fuego, then I turned and moved toward my office.