Page 63 of Heal Me

Thirty years to be exact. This is the longest period. But for the most part, few people live more than ten years.

So it won't take me long to find peace again with Denys. And I'm not afraid of it. No one in my family is. They will be happy knowing that my soul is finally at peace.

I promised myself that I would live this life by saving people. I don't need to look for love or anything else in other people, because my only love is already waiting for me.

And so is Danylo. I do not need love from him, and I will never be able to give him this feeling in return. I like how I feel around him, but it will never develop into something more.

I finish my breakfast and go to the hospital. This week I was also busy studying, so I will only work this weekend.

I sign at the reception and enter the staff room.

"Good morning," a familiar voice cuts through the silence of these walls.

"Good morning," I answer quietly.

Danylo is just finishing dressing and putting on his uniform.

"I hope you don't mind if we work together today." I do. Of course, I do.

"No," I answer and put my tea on the table. "Have you changed your mind?"

"The other schedule just doesn't work for me." So he didn't come back because of me.

"I see."

"I'm going on my rounds, I'll wait for you at reception." As usual. Not a suggestion, an order.

But I'm still glad to see him. And I don't mind that my hands are sweating, and my heartbeat is racing. This is a normal reaction, isn't it?

I'm mentally relieved I got rid of that stupid watch on my first day here, because it would probably be ringing like crazy every two minutes from rapid pulse.

I quickly change and catch up with Danylo. He is leaning on the reception desk and looking directly at me.

I swear I just saw an involuntary smile on his face, which immediately disappeared when I smiled back. He's weird, I swear.

"How are you?" Danylo picks up the note.

"Good, and you?"

"Same," he replies briefly.

But I can see that something is wrong. I can feel it.

"I'm getting married next week." I take a breath into my lungs.

"Wow," I am surprised. "Why are you in such a hurry?" Danylo slows his pace.

"Zlata is pregnant," he says quietly, so quietly that I don't even realise what he's saying at first.

I freeze. Time stops, my breath too. He is going to be a father. Danylo is going to be a father. Now everything will change.

"Wow," I repeat, as if all the words I knew had instantly left my mind, "congratulations."

"Thank you," Danylo replies without a hint of joy.

"Is something wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong."

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