Shadows of past

Sophie rushed into the hospital, her heart pounding as she searched for her friends. She found Zara and Ella standing in the hallway outside Zane's room, their faces pale with worry.

"What happened?" Sophie asked breathlessly.

Kai Roberts, wearing his white coat and holding a clipboard, approached the group. His usually calm demeanor was strained.

"I just got the results," Kai said, looking at Zane through the glass window of the hospital room. "He's been diagnosed with the first stage of stomach cancer."

The words hung heavy in the air, shocking everyone into silence.

"No…" Ella whispered, her voice trembling. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Zane, who lay unconscious on the hospital bed.

Zara placed a comforting hand on Ella's shoulder. "We'll get through this together," she said softly, though her own voice wavered.

Sophie clenched her fists, trying to hold back her tears. "What do we do now? How do we help him?"

Kai sighed, his expression grim but determined. "The good news is that it's the first stage. With the right treatment, he has a strong chance of recovery. But it's going to be a long and challenging journey."

Ella wiped her tears, trying to compose herself. "I'll do anything to help him. He's… he's everything to me."

Zara exchanged a look with Sophie, both of them understanding the depth of Ella's feelings for Zane.

"We'll all be here for him," Sophie said firmly. "No matter what."

The tension among the five friends was palpable as they sat together in the waiting area. Sophie stared at the floor, her mind racing. Zane's diagnosis felt like a cruel twist of fate, and it pained her to see her close friend in such a vulnerable state.

Ella sat quietly, her head bowed, while Zara kept glancing at her, unsure how to offer more comfort. Kai, being the doctor, busied himself with updating Zane's chart and coordinating with the medical team.

"I can't believe this is happening," Ella finally said, breaking the silence. "Why Zane? He's always been so full of life."

"Life doesn't play fair," Zara said gently. "But we'll make sure he doesn't face this alone."

Sophie nodded, her resolve strengthening. She looked at her friends, feeling a renewed sense of unity despite the difficult circumstances.

---

As Sophie got up to take a walk down the hallway, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized it was her mother.

"Mom?" Sophie called out, her voice trembling with emotion.

The woman turned briefly, her face shadowed, before disappearing around the corner.

Sophie ran after her, her footsteps echoing in the sterile hospital corridor. "Mom, wait!"

But by the time she reached the end of the hall, her mother was gone, leaving Sophie feeling hollow and confused. Why had her mother been at the hospital? And why had she run away?

---

Later that evening, Sophie returned to her room, her emotions in turmoil. The day had been overwhelming—Zane's diagnosis, the fleeting sight of her mother, and the ever-present tension with Aiden.

She sat on the edge of her bed, her head in her hands. Her thoughts drifted to Aiden, the man who had once been her dream but now seemed like a living nightmare. How had he become so cold, so ruthless?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Sophie looked up to see Aiden standing there, his expression unreadable.

"What now?" she asked, her voice weary.

Aiden stepped inside, closing the door behind him. His presence was intimidating, and Sophie's heart raced with both fear and anger.

"You left the hospital without telling me," he said, his tone sharp.

"I had to be there for my friend," Sophie shot back. "You can't control everything I do."

Aiden's jaw tightened, and he moved closer to her. "You forget your place, Sophie. I own you now."

Sophie stood up, her fists clenched. "Why are you like this, Aiden? What happened to you? The man I once admired… he's gone. You've become someone I don't even recognize."

Her words seemed to strike a nerve. Aiden's cold exterior faltered for a moment, and a flicker of something—pain, regret—crossed his face.

"How do you even know what I was like?" he asked, his voice quieter but laced with bitterness.

Sophie met his gaze, her eyes filled with both defiance and sadness. "I just do. And it breaks my heart to see you like this."

Aiden stared at her for a long moment before turning away. Without another word, he walked out of the room, leaving Sophie alone once again.

As the door closed behind him, Sophie sat back down on the bed, tears streaming down her face. She didn't know what had happened to Aiden over the years, but she couldn't shake the feeling that the man she had fallen in love with was still in there somewhere, hidden beneath the layers of anger and pain.

...