CHAPTER 79: At the hospital

　　Isabelle’s days at the hospital had begun to settle into a strange rhythm. It wasn’t the life she had once envisioned for herself but it was a life nonetheless. Her mornings were spent doing chores with Ella, cleaning rooms and assisting the nurses whenever needed. Ella, too, was adapting to this new reality, working diligently to repay the debts they owed according to the contract. Every day felt like a slow, uphill battle but Isabelle was grateful for Ella’s presence by her side. The two had grown closer, bonded by their shared struggles and the sense of survival that lingered over them like a shadow.

　　"How are you holding up, Ella?" Isabelle asked as they scrubbed the floors of the hospital corridors.

　　Ella paused, wiping a strand of hair from her face. "It's hard, but at least we're alive. It’s better than the alternative, right? Besides, I'm adapted to this work…. Just a bit different from the hospital saint and all.."