Chapter 5

**Amira pov**

The next morning, I walked into the hospital with a single mission: avoid Ryan at all costs. I threw myself into my work, taking on as many patients as possible, anything to keep myself busy. I even avoid having lunch with my friends by eating late by engaging myself in work. But every time I walked past the surgical wing, my heart would skip a beat, wondering if Ryan was nearby.

"Amira, you okay?" Eva asked as we took a quick coffee break together. She was one of my closest friends, someone I could always count on for support.

"Yeah, just tired," I lied, giving her a forced smile.

Yet she managed to read my mind again

”Well, you can’t avoid him forever. You need to talk to him, Amira. Ryan’s a good guy. He doesn’t deserve to be left hanging like this," she advised, her tone gentle but firm.

Eva reached across the table, squeezing my hand. "Amira, you have to let yourself move on. You deserve to be happy."

I nodded, but her words didn’t make it any easier. How could I move on when I hadn’t even closed the door on my past?

Ten days passed since Ryan’s confession, and I found myself avoiding him less. But every time I saw him, the guilt would creep back in, reminding me of the mess I had made of my life.

Ryan couldn’t bear this pain anymore so he came forward and talked to me

“Wanna have lunch with me?”

I simply nodded with a satisfactory smile.

Someone at least a move.

I knew I had feelings for Ryan—how could I not? He was kind, funny, and always there for me. But more than that i cherished him as my best friend. But the thought of starting something new with him while still being technically married made my stomach turn.

In the cafeteria,

After a few moments of casual conversation, Rayan took the opportunity to address that night’s events. "Amira, I want to apologize if my proposal was too sudden. I didn’t mean to add to your pain."

Amira looked at him, her eyes reflecting a mixture of sadness and understanding. "You don’t have to apologize, Rayan. You just expressed your feelings, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I didn’t respond because I’m still not ready to move on, not in the way you deserve."

Rayan’s expression softened. "I understand. I just didn’t want you to think I was pushing you away. I value our friendship too much to risk losing it."

The conversation left me with a heavy heart. Everyone around me was aware of the close bond between her and Rayan, sensing the unspoken affection that lingered between them. But for me, something remained unvoiced, a hesitation that I could not easily explain.

My feelings towards Rayan were complex. I appreciated his unwavering support and his genuine care, but I was also hesitant. The shadow of my father’s death and the fallout from the failed marriage had left me uncertain of my own desires and readiness for a new relationship. Rayan’s feelings for me were clear, but my heart was still mending, caught between the desire and pain.