Chapter Thirty-Seven: Shadows of the Past

Emma's POV

As Aaron walked out of the hospital, I felt a wave of mixed emotions. While his persistent interest in Nicholas was annoying, his willingness to help us here at Hope View was a welcome blessing. I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the tasks at hand.

After finishing up with the medication rounds and ensuring all the patients were comfortable, I visited the staff room for a quick break. The room was empty, filled with an eerie silence. It felt almost surreal. Here I was, in a place that felt more like home than anywhere else had in a long time, yet I couldn’t stop thinking about Nicholas.

I shook my head, trying to clear my mind. "Pull yourself together, Emma," I muttered to myself. "Focus on why you're here."

Determined to dive back into work, I grabbed a patient's chart and started making my way to his room. As I reached Room 204, my heart skipped a beat. Evan, one of the newer patients, was sitting in his wheelchair, staring out of the window. He looked so young, ba