Elara quickly picked up her phone. She did not look back at Adrian, not even for a second. Her steps were calm as she walked toward the door, but her fingers tightened slightly around the phone in her hand, betraying the storm she was trying to keep in her mind.
The door opened before she reached for it. A nurse stood there, just about to enter. For a small second, their eyes met but Elara only gave a small, polite nod, her expression already composed again, as if nothing unusual had happened behind that door. Then she walked past her.
Her pace was neither fast nor slow, but once she stepped into the quiet corridor, her feet came to an abrupt stop.
She stood there for a long time. And without even thinking, her hand lifted and brushed against her lip, as if trying to confirm something… or maybe erase it. Then she lowered it again.
Her expression returned to its usual calm. Without turning back, she continued walking down the corridor.
–
