The faint chime of the clinic doorbell rang as Arthur pushed it open, his fingers gently entwined with Alice’s. A soft breeze brushed in behind them, carrying with it the sterile chill of the clinic air—clean, sharp, yet oddly comforting, like chamomile steeped in antiseptic.

  Inside, the quiet hum of fluorescent lights buzzed overhead. Then, from the front desk, a figure stepped forward, her smile like sunlight breaking through a cloudy morning.

  “Good morning, Alice. Arthur,” she greeted, her voice wrapped in warmth and ease.

  It was Teresa.

  “Good morning, Teresa,” Alice greeted her with a warm smile.

  “You two came early,” Teresa said, returning the smile. “Dr. Fye’s still going over the patients’ files for today.” She paused, her tone gentle. “Would you mind waiting for a little while?”

  “Of course. We came early because… well, we’ve got plans after this,” Alice replied, glancing at Arthur with a playful gleam in her eyes.

  Arthur blinked, visibly puzzled. His brow furrowed slightly—he clearly had no idea what she meant.

  Teresa noticed and let out a soft laugh, her eyes lighting up. “Is it a date?”

  Alice chuckled, her cheeks flushing ever so slightly. “You’re right about that!”

  Arthur let out a soft sigh, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “I’m fine with that… but wouldn’t it be better if you rested?”

  Alice turned to him with a grin, closing her eyes and clicking her tongue in playful rhythm as she waved her finger side to side like a teacher scolding a mischievous student.

  “Our date is part of my medicine,” she declared confidently, then gave him a smug look. “Dr. Fye told me so, remember?”

  Arthur couldn’t help it—he laughed. A full, unguarded laugh that echoed lightly through the quiet clinic lobby.

  “What kind of logic is that?” he chuckled. “Hahaha…”

  Seeing him laugh so freely, Alice was caught off guard. Her eyes widened slightly, surprised by how his laughter warmed the space between them. Then her expression softened into something quiet and genuine.

  “That’s right,” she said softly.

  During the quiet minutes of waiting, Arthur and Alice passed the time with a simple game of rock-paper-scissors, their soft laughs echoing in the clean, hushed clinic. Each win or loss was met with exaggerated reactions—Alice’s playful pout, Arthur’s triumphant grin.

  From behind the reception desk, Teresa watched with a gentle smile, resting her chin on her hand. there was something undeniably sweet about the pair—the way they moved in sync, the way their eyes found each other so naturally. They’re so young, and yet… it’s like they were meant to be with each other, she thought.

  After a few more rounds and a quiet, shared laugh, Teresa stepped forward and cleared her throat lightly. “Dr. Fye is calling you. She’s in her office—please go ahead.”

  The two of them stood up at once, almost in perfect unison. Without a word, Arthur reached for Alice’s hand, and she held his without hesitation. Together, they walked forward, quiet resolve lining their backs. Whatever was waiting behind that door—they would face it together.

  As they opened the door to Dr. Fye’s office, they were greeted by the soft rustling of papers and the familiar scent of herbal tea lingering in the air. Sat at her desk, Dr. Fye glanced up with a warm smile, her fingers gently flipping through a stack of patient charts.

  “I heard from Teresa that you two arrived a little earlier,” she said, her voice calm and welcoming, like always.

  They entered the office with deliberate steps, but something felt off to Arthur. The usual calm and welcoming atmosphere of Dr. Fye’s office seemed distant. A faint, lingering scent of smoke clung to the air, despite the strong aroma of herbal tea meant to mask it. Yet, it didn’t escape Arthur’s keen sense of smell.

  Arthur’s eyes narrowed slightly. He knew Dr. Fye didn’t smoke—she didn’t allow anyone to smoke freely around her either.

  “We have plans after this,” he said, his tone casual, but his gaze was sharp as he scanned the office, taking in every detail.

  He paused, his senses pulling him further into the oddness of the moment.

  “By the way, Dr. Fye... your office seems a bit strange today. Feels like someone’s just smoked in here,” he said, his voice carrying a touch of concern now. He paused again and locked eyes with her. “It’s weird, knowing you don’t smoke and you don’t allow any patient to smoke freely.”

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  He couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

  “Actually, after I finish checking Alice’s current condition, I’d like to speak with you alone,” Dr. Fye said, her gaze shifting to Alice with a soft smile. “Is that alright with you, Alice?”

  Alice hadn’t anticipated that. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded, a bit awkwardly. “O-Of course,” she stammered, unsure how to respond, so she let out a nervous laugh to cover her discomfort.

  Dr. Fye’s smile deepened as she glanced over at Alice, her eyes soft but filled with quiet confidence. “Alice,” she began gently, “I’ve just gone over your latest test results, and I have some very good news. Your condition is improving. The levels in your blood have stabilized, and there’s a noticeable reduction in the strain on your organs. The treatment seems to be taking effect better than we expected.”

  Alice’s eyes widened in surprise, and her chest tightened for a moment, a mix of disbelief and hope swirling inside her. “Wait… really?” she asked, her voice almost a whisper.

  Dr. Fye nodded with a reassuring smile. “Yes. It’s not a complete turnaround, but the progress is undeniable. The new medication we introduced is clearly helping, and your body is responding well. I’m confident that, if we continue at this pace, we’ll see even more improvement in the coming weeks.”

  Alice exhaled softly, a small, cautious smile playing at the corners of her lips. “I didn’t think… I didn’t expect this,” she admitted, her eyes slightly teary. “I thought I’d just be stuck where I am.”

  Arthur, watching her closely, couldn’t hide the relief on his face. He squeezed her hand, and she glanced at him, seeing the weight lifting from his shoulders as well.

  Dr. Fye’s tone remained steady, but there was a touch of warmth that made her words feel more like a gentle embrace. “I understand, but don’t lose sight of how far you’ve come, Alice. You’re doing well. But remember, this is just the start. We need to keep a close eye on you, continue with the treatment, and take things one step at a time.”

  Alice nodded, feeling the first genuine wave of hope she’d felt in a long time. “I will. Thank you so much, Dr. Fye.”

  Dr. Fye gave a small nod, her smile never fading. “You’re welcome. Just keep following the plan, and we’ll keep moving forward.”

  After hearing the good news about her condition, Alice stepped out of the office, leaving Arthur behind. As the door clicked shut, the atmosphere shifted.

  The warmth that had softened Dr. Fye’s features vanished almost instantly, replaced by a stern stillness. Her eyes, once gentle, now held a sharp, unwavering focus. The change wasn’t loud—but Arthur felt it, like a pulse in his veins. The room suddenly felt heavier, quieter.

  “I have something to talk to you about, Arthur,” she said, her voice low and firm.

  She gestured toward the chair across from her.

  Arthur sat down slowly, deliberately. His mind already moving, reading the room like a battlefield. Something was wrong. And it wasn’t about Alice.

  Dr. Fye leaned forward, resting both elbows on the desk as she clasped her hands together. Her voice was low, deliberate.

  “It’s about your current situation,” she began. “Arthur, are you truly certain that Douglas is giving you the freedom to live on your own terms?”

  Her words hit like a weight dropped into still water. Arthur’s breath caught. The question pierced deeper than he expected. He looked down, eyes fixed on the floor, as if searching for answers in the cracks of the tiles.

  His heart sank—just moments ago, everything had felt almost peaceful, like maybe he could hold on to this new life with Alice. But now... that fragile dream felt like it was slipping through his fingers.

  He said nothing. No words came. Just silence and the sound of his pulse echoing in his ears.

  “Arthur, say it!” Dr. Fye snapped, her voice sharp with urgency.

  His fingers clenched into fists on his lap. Slowly, he raised his eyes to meet hers—no longer uncertain, but burning with a quiet fury.

  “I get it now,” he said, voice low but steady. “The reason you asked me that question… it’s because he was here. Douglas came to see you. In this room.”

  He paused, the air between them crackling with something unspoken.

  “I knew it the moment I stepped in. That cigarette smoke—he always used the same brand. Strong, bitter, like something that refuses to die out.” His gaze hardened. “No one else I know smells like that.”

  She let out a heavy sigh, removing her glasses with slow precision. Gently, she began wiping them with the hem of her coat, as if buying time to choose her words carefully.

  “You’re right,” she said finally. “He was here. An hour ago.”

  Arthur didn’t flinch, but something in his jaw tightened.

  “He asked me to give you a message,” she continued, slipping her glasses back on and meeting his gaze. “If you don’t go back… he’ll take away your happiness. And not quietly.”

  Arthur’s breath hitched, his fingers curling into the fabric of his pants. A frown deepened across his face as he struggled to keep the growl caught in his throat.

  Dr. Fye studied him, her voice softening. “He meant Alice, Arthur. He’s threatening her life. And if you don’t act fast, all those little things you’ve fought so hard for—the peace, the laughter, the light in your eyes—he’ll burn them to the ground.”

  She reached across the desk, gently placing her hand over his.

  “You need to run. Not because you’re weak. But because danger is still following you. And this time… it won’t just be you who pays the price.”

  She gave him a small, bittersweet smile.

  “If I run away…” Arthur’s voice cracked, barely above a whisper. “What will happen to Alice’s condition?”

  He clenched his fists on his knees.

  “If I disappear, she might get worse again. I can’t risk that. I won’t let everything she fought so hard for go to waste.”

  His eyes shimmered, the weight behind them breaking through the surface. Tears welled up, but he held them back—barely.

  “I just… I don’t know what to do.” His voice trembled. “If things go the way Douglas wants… she’ll be in danger. And I won’t be able to protect her.”

  The room fell quiet, thick with unspoken words. Neither of them dared to break it—not out of restraint, but because no words felt right in that moment.