Bound by the Waves

Chapter 19: X-mas Announcement

The past few months in Aramora had passed in a blur of hard work, long hours, and an unspoken understanding that we were all in this together. The mission was important, and every day brought its own set of challenges and triumphs. But even the most dedicated professionals needed a break every now and then.

That afternoon, Dr. Nunez gathered us all in the conference room for our regular meeting. There was a strange energy in the air, a mix of exhaustion and anticipation. We had all been working tirelessly, so when Dr. Nunez cleared his throat and addressed the room, everyone was immediately on edge, wondering what he was going to say.

“I’ve got some good news for everyone,” Dr. Nunez began, his voice steady and calm, as always. His eyes scanned the room, meeting each of us in turn. “After discussing it with the rest of the team, we’ve decided to give everyone two weeks off for Christmas.”

A wave of surprise rippled through the room. Two weeks off? It seemed almost too good to be true. After four months of nonstop work in the small coastal hospital, the thought of a break felt like a distant dream.

“Two weeks?” Kate asked, her voice rising with excitement. “We’re really getting two weeks off?”

“Yes,” Dr. Nunez confirmed with a smile. “Everyone—doctors, nurses, all of you. I think it’s important for everyone to take some time to recharge and be with family. You’ve all earned it.”

The excitement in the room was palpable. A few people exchanged surprised glances, and some even let out soft cheers. The thought of going home for Christmas, after so many months away, made it feel like the holidays had come early.

Dr. Nunez continued, “We’ll be sending you all back to your families for two weeks. Take the time to relax and enjoy the season. I’ll be staying here in Aramora to make sure everything runs smoothly in your absence, but I want you all to take full advantage of this time off.”

The announcement seemed to spark a new energy in the room, a sense of relief that we hadn’t realized we were all waiting for. The tension of the past few months melted away with the idea of returning home, even if just for a short while.

I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension. While the others were already planning their time off with enthusiasm, the idea of heading back home to face my family—and everything that awaited me there—wasn’t as simple as it seemed.

“So, when do we leave?” Mateo asked, his voice already filled with excitement. “When do we get to go home?”

Dr. Nunez smiled and nodded. “You’ll have two weeks starting in a few days. Make sure to tie up any loose ends here before you go. But for now, consider it your holiday gift from the team. Just make sure you come back rested and ready to get back to work.”

A cheer went up around the room, and the chatter quickly turned to where everyone would go and what they would do with their time off. Some were already talking about reuniting with family, others were planning a quiet holiday retreat.

Kate turned to me, her face lighting up. “Can you believe it? Two weeks! I don’t even know what I’m going to do with myself.”

“I’m sure you’ll find something,” I replied, trying to hide the unease that was creeping up in my chest. The excitement was infectious, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that being home for the holidays was going to bring up more than just good memories.

“I’m going home to see my mom and dad,” Kate continued. “It’s been so long. And the best part? I don’t have to worry about work for two weeks!”

I forced a smile, even though I couldn’t quite share in her enthusiasm. I was happy for her, of course, but the idea of being home with my family, particularly with the engagement hanging over me like a dark cloud, didn’t fill me with the same joy.