The hospital was quiet.
Clean white walls.
Soft footsteps.
Low voices moving in and out of rooms.
I sat in the waiting area, one hand on my forehead.
Fever.
Headache.
That was all.
At least… that was what I thought.
When my name was called, I stood up slowly and walked into the consultation room.
I pushed the door open.
And then…
Everything stopped.
She was standing there.
In a white coat.
Calm.
Composed.
Older… but still the same.
Nancy.
For a moment, I couldn't move.
It felt like time paused.
Like everything around me disappeared.
All I could see… was her.
She didn't recognize me immediately.
She picked up her pen and looked at me professionally.
"Good afternoon," she said. "Please, have a seat."
Her voice…
It was still the same.
I sat down slowly, still staring at her.
My heart was beating faster than it should.
"Name?" she asked, looking at her file.
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
I was still in shock.
She looked up at me.
"Your name?" she repeated.
"I… I…" I stammered.
I couldn't believe it.
After all these years…
After searching, after missing her…
She was right in front of me.
"I'm Light," I finally said.
She paused slightly.
"Light…" she repeated.
"Why does that sound familiar?"
I forced a small smile.
"It does."
She looked at me for a moment, like she was trying to remember something.
Then she shook her head lightly and continued writing.
"What seems to be the problem?"
"Fever… headache," I said.
She nodded and began asking more questions, but I wasn't really hearing them.
I was just looking at her.
Trying to match this doctor in front of me…
With the small girl who used to sit beside me in JSS1.
Then I spoke again.
"Your name is Nancy, right?"
She looked up immediately.
A little surprised.
"Yes… how did you know?"
I pointed slightly at her chest.
"Your name tag."
She looked down at it… then smiled.
"Oh."
But I smiled too.
Because I already knew.
"Did you attend Elite Light Gate Secondary School?" I asked.
This time, she paused properly.
Her eyes stayed on mine.
"Yes," she said slowly.
I leaned forward slightly.
"Do you remember your seatmate in JSS1?"
She didn't speak.
I continued.
"The light-skinned boy… who used to misplace your spoon and fork."
There was a short silence.
Then suddenly—
She laughed.
A real laugh.
Her hand went to her forehead.
"That was you?" she said, surprised.
I nodded.
"Yes."
For a moment, we just looked at each other.
Not as doctor and patient anymore.
But as two people who shared a past.
"You've changed," she said.
"So have you," I replied.
There was something different in the air now.
The distance between us didn't feel so big anymore.
After the check-up and some scans, she confirmed it wasn't serious.
"You're fine," she said. "Just some medication."
She wrote the prescription and handed it to me.
"You can go."
She turned slightly, about to leave.
And I knew…
If I let her go again like that…
I might lose her again.
Just like before.
"You didn't give me your number," I said.
She stopped.
Turned back.
"Oh… I forgot."
I brought out my phone immediately.
"Call it. I'll save it."
She hesitated for a second… then took out her phone and dialed.
My phone rang.
I saved it quickly.
"That's mine," I said.
She nodded.
"Okay."
"Send me your socials," I added.
"Alright," she said simply.
Then she turned and walked out.
This time…
I didn't stop her.
Because for the first time in years…
I knew she wasn't lost again.