They spent the next few seconds simply seeing each other, really seeing, for the first time in person. Silent, unmoving, and yet their eyes said everything.
John took in her not-so-tall height, the softness of her pretty face, her long brown hair, which was a shade darker than his own, and the way she had tied it back into a ponytail.
John: (to himself) Okay… I didn't think she'd look any different from how she looked on our video calls but… up close, she's really… beautiful. And that ponytail… (softly smiles) She did that for me?
Seeing his smile, subtle but unmistakably warm, made Kana's heart skip a beat, her body temperature soaring like a sudden fever.
Kana: (to herself) He's here!! He's really here, standing right in front of me!!! He came all this way… for me… And he's really… hot.
Their heads were swirling with emotions, unspoken but loud inside their hearts. Yet not a single word left their lips. They just stood there, surrounded by falling snow and a silence heavy with meaning.
Until finally, Jane, who had been watching the whole interaction with a growing grin, couldn't take it anymore.
Jane: (grinning, arms crossed) Well? Aren't you two going to say anything?
Her voice cut clean through the moment, snapping Kana and John from the haze that had settled between their connected stares.
They both quickly looked down at the snowy ground, embarrassed and shy, the weight of unsaid feelings still hanging in the winter air.
Kana: (softly, with a faint smile) I knew you'd come…
There was no surprise in her voice, only quiet certainty. A truth she had clung to through every lonely night, every painful hour.
John opened his mouth, words trembling on the edge of his tongue, but before he could speak—
Jane: (groaning, shivering) Okay, okay, we get it. You missed each other. Adorable. Heartwarming. But if someone doesn't speak in full sentences soon, I'm going to freeze into a human popsicle!
That broke the tension.
Kana let out a soft laugh, breath fogging in the cold. John chuckled too, the ice between them finally starting to melt.
John: (gently, eyes never leaving hers) I came because I meant it when I said I would. You mattered more than you ever knew.
A few steps behind them, Dr. Kennedy stood silently, his gaze soft, his arms folded, a knowing look in his eyes.
Dr. Kennedy: (calmly) Sometimes, silence says more than words ever could. But… I think she's earned a few, don't you think, John?
John nodded, his chest rising with a slow breath. The snow crunched softly beneath his foot as he took a step closer to her.
John (smiling warmly): You know… you're a lot shorter in person. I always imagined you'd be taller, considering all that attitude over the phone.
Kana blinked once, then burst out laughing. It wasn't loud, nor was it forced. It was honest. It was real. The kind of laugh that loosened the weight on her shoulders.
Kana: (playfully) And you're late. I was this close to thinking that you chickened out.
John: (grinning) Please. You live for the drama.
Kana (smirking, crossing her arms): Says the guy who walked through snow like he's starring in a tragic romance film.
From behind, Dr. Kennedy smiled faintly. Jane leaned toward him with a playful whisper.
Jane: (softly) They're back to being themselves.
Dr. Kennedy: (nodding) Exactly what she needed. (pauses, then adds) What they both needed.
John: (raising an eyebrow)So… are we going to keep standing here?
Kana: (with a teasing sigh) Well, the plan was to go out and have some fun, but since you showed up late, most of the stores are already closed.
John: (cartoonishly offended) Why are you making it sound like it's my fault?
Kana: (mock-serious) Because it is.
John: No it isn't…
Kana: But it is…
John: Huh?
Kana: (grinning) Anyway, I know the perfect place we can go.
John: (tilting his head) Oh? Okay… Where?
Before he could finish that thought, Kana reached out, gently grabbed his left hand, and began to lead him forward, a joyful smile lighting up her entire face.
Kana: (cheerfully) It's a secret!!
John blinked in surprise but didn't resist. Her hand was small, warm despite the cold, and full of a quiet strength that tugged at his heart.
As the two of them walked off, the soft crunch of snow marking each step, Dr. Kennedy gave Jane a look that said let's go. Jane sighed, rolling her eyes, then called out after them.
Jane: (shouting) Hey! Don't go running too far ahead! Some of us aren't built for snowy love stories!
Dr. Kennedy followed silently behind them, a peaceful look on his face.
But just a short distance away, unseen by the others, another figure stood frozen in place.
A girl with wide eyes and disbelief written all over her face.
It was Misa.
She had been watching the entire scene unfold from the shadows, and the sight before her had struck her like a thunderbolt.
Misa: (shocked whisper) K… Kana…?
Her voice was barely audible against the winter wind, but the weight behind it was enormous. Her heart raced as she stared ahead, wondering if her eyes were playing tricks on her.
************
They had all arrived at the one place no one expected them to go, especially not in the middle of winter.
The beach.
It was quiet. Still. Barely a soul in sight. The frigid wind rolled gently over the shore, carrying the distant echo of waves that had lost their summer warmth. Snow scattered across the sand like forgotten memories, and the ocean water, once inviting, had turned sharp with cold. It wasn't the ideal place for a holiday getaway, but perhaps that's why it felt right.
Farther down the beach, near the water's edge, Kana and John had already taken off their shoes. Their socks lay bundled behind them, and their bare feet were now submerged in the icy water. Kana winced from the cold at first, but then she laughed, a small, breathless laugh that was quickly lost to the wind. John laughed too, saying something she couldn't hear, and the two of them stood there together, immersed in their own little moment.
A few meters away, Dr. Kennedy and Jane sat on a bench, bundled in coats and scarves, watching from a quiet distance.
Dr. Kennedy: So…
Jane: So…?
Dr. Kennedy: I see you didn't tell her… about her condition.
(pauses) I'm glad you didn't.
Jane's expression faltered. Her eyes lowered to her boots, and her mind wandered, back to yesterday. Back to that moment in the hospital when Dr. Kennedy had pulled her aside and shared the truth that had made her stomach twist.
*******
Jane: Is Kana's health getting worse?
Dr. Kennedy: (serious, yet gentle) Jane… Kana's condition is progressing. (pauses) Dilated cardiomyopathy means her heart muscle has become weakened and enlarged. It's struggling to pump blood the way it should. And over time, that strain starts affecting every part of her body.
Jane's hands clutched tightly in her lap.
Dr. Kennedy: We've done all we can, medications, close observation, but her heart is under immense pressure. It's working harder than it should, and that's not something it can sustain forever.
Jane: (voice trembling) So… what does that mean? What happens now?
Dr. Kennedy: (softly) It means we're entering a critical phase.
Episodes of fainting, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, they'll become more frequent. And there's always the looming threat of complications. Sudden arrhythmia… or even cardiac arrest. (pauses) Jane, we're going to keep doing everything we can. But… you should prepare yourself. Time may be running out.
******
Remembering that now made Jane feel sick all over again. She took a slow breath and exhaled, the air steaming softly in front of her lips. She turned her eyes toward Kana and John, still near the water, laughing and unaware of the shadows looming just behind them.
Jane: H-How could I tell her, sir? (swallows hard) She was so excited to meet John today. She's been talking about it all week… (pauses, voice softer) I didn't want to be the one who took that away from her. I just wanted her to have this… this happy moment. Even if it's brief.
Dr. Kennedy: I understand. (softly) Seems like we both care about her that much, huh?
Jane nodded slowly but didn't look at him. Her eyes were still on Kana, so full of life in a body that was slowly failing her.
Jane: But… sooner or later, she'll have to know the truth.
(pauses) How do we even tell her something like that?
Dr. Kennedy leaned back on the bench, his eyes drifting up to the thick grey clouds above.
Dr. Kennedy: Honestly… I don't know. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
Jane sighed, her breath white in the air.
Jane: I see…
A beat of silence passed before Dr. Kennedy spoke again.
Dr. Kennedy: Also… you don't need to call me "Doctor" all the time. Just "Kennedy" is fine.
Jane blinked, startled by the sudden change of tone.
Jane: Huh? I—I couldn't do that. (flustered) You're my superior at the hospital. It wouldn't be proper…
Dr. Kennedy: Yeah, I get that. But still… Everyone calls me "Doctor" even outside of work. It gets exhausting, y'know? (glances at her) Besides… I wouldn't mind if you just called me by my name.
That caught Jane off guard. Her cheeks warmed suddenly, and she quickly pulled her yellow scarf up, hoping it would hide the blush spreading across her face.
Jane: I… I see.
She glanced back toward Kana and John, who were now sitting on the wet sand, their legs still in the water, talking quietly with their heads tilted toward one another. A new thought crossed her mind.
Jane: Dr. Ken—(catches herself) Kennedy…?
Kennedy raised an eyebrow, surprised by how quickly she adjusted.
Dr. Kennedy: Huh… I mean, yes? What is it?
Jane didn't notice his amused reaction. Her gaze was still fixed on the two figures down by the water.
Jane: Kana told me something the other day. (pauses) She said you've been the one paying for her treatment… all these years. (turns to face him) Why? Why have you done so much for her?
Dr. Kennedy didn't answer right away.
He looked out at the ocean, his expression unreadable. The waves rolled gently in the distance, their rhythm steady, echoing the silence between them.
Dr. Kennedy pondered the question for a moment. As he did, an image flickered in his mind—a little girl, no older than ten, smiling brightly up at him. The memory was vivid and haunting. He inhaled deeply, letting the moment settle before speaking.
Dr. Kennedy: A few years ago, I was assigned to a young girl who was battling a rare blood disease. It wasn't like Kana's situation, her family never left her side. They were there every single day, smiling, hopeful, doing everything they could to stay strong for her. And I… I made them a promise. I told them I would do everything in my power to take care of her. They believed me. They trusted me.
He paused, his eyes clouding over as the memories began to replay, moments filled with laughter, struggle, heartbreak.
Dr. Kennedy: As time went on, I grew close to her. Closer than I probably should've, if I'm being honest. But I couldn't help it. She was so full of life, so brave. Her fight inspired me. It pushed me to work harder, to do more, to believe that maybe I could save her.
(pauses, his voice trembling slightly)
Dr. Kennedy: But I couldn't. I couldn't save her.
Jane sat quietly beside him, giving him space to speak, listening with gentle understanding.
Dr. Kennedy: After she passed, her family... they turned on me. Grief does that, I suppose. They said I had failed her. That I had made it worse. There was even talk of a lawsuit. It never went that far, but… it stayed with me. I blamed myself every single day for months. I kept wondering what I could've done differently. I thought about walking away from medicine altogether.
(he takes another breath, steadier this time)
Dr. Kennedy: And then… Kana came into my life. But unlike that little girl, her story was different. No family at her bedside. No visitors. No one.
Something shifted in Jane's expression, understanding dawning on her.
Jane: So… this is your second chance. You're trying to save her, aren't you?
Dr. Kennedy: Right on the mark. I spent so long debating whether it even mattered. I mean, the odds are stacked against her. Her condition is terminal, and we both know the chances of a full recovery are slim. But every day, I saw that same look in her eyes, the look of someone who's already accepted death. And I couldn't bear it anymore. Paying her hospital bills wasn't enough. I had to do something more.
He looks away, ashamed.
Dr. Kennedy: But even now, it feels like I'm failing again. Her condition's getting worse, and I don't know if what I've done has made any real difference.
Jane turned toward him, her voice suddenly firm and full of conviction.
Jane: No. You're wrong.
Dr. Kennedy (taken aback): What?
Jane: You're not failing. You've already done more for Kana than anyone else in her life ever has. You didn't just keep her alive, you gave her something worth living for. You gave her joy. You gave her hope. That means something, Dr. Kennedy. Even if you couldn't save that other little girl… even if Kana's fate is uncertain… you didn't walk away from her.
(pauses, softer now)
Jane: She's not here just because of the medication. She's here because you believed in her. You stayed. You saw her. You reminded her that she wasn't alone. And that… that's the kind of healing no doctor can prescribe but every human being needs.
Jane then pointed ahead, where Kana and John stood a few meters away, laughing together like carefree teenagers. Dr. Kennedy followed her gaze.
Jane: Look at that. See how happy she is? You made that happen. You gave her the phone. You gave her a way to reach people, to feel connected again. You may not have cured her disease… but you saved her from something just as devastating loneliness and despair.
Jane: You did save her, Dr. Kennedy.
Dr. Kennedy looked at Kana, so full of light, so alive, and remembered the days when her eyes were empty, her voice barely a whisper. Then he looked back at Jane, and for the first time in a long while, he smiled. A genuine, warm smile. Her words had pierced through the guilt and sorrow he had been holding onto. The weight in his chest lightened.
Dr. Kennedy: Yeah… you're right.
For a brief moment, their eyes locked. A quiet connection passed between them, electric and unspoken. Both felt the warmth rise in their cheeks and instinctively looked away, flustered but smiling.
Dr. Kennedy turned his attention back to Kana and John, watching the way she laughed with such ease. Then, without warning, a memory resurfaced, something Kana had told him months ago, with her usual blunt honesty and mischievous grin.
"You two obviously have the hots for each other. Just start dating already."
The memory made him chuckle softly. He glanced at Jane, who was still watching Kana and John with a fond smile. The moment felt right. For once, he decided to listen to Kana's advice.
Dr. Kennedy: So… are you going to be free next Saturday?