AT THE HOSPITAL
The hospital buzzed with the usual rhythm—nurses pushing carts, patients calling out, and Ava rushing between rooms with her clipboard. She was tired but grounded here, in her element, where everything made sense.
Then she froze.
Standing at the end of the corridor, dressed neatly with a soft smile, was Isabella.
Ava's stomach dropped. Her throat tightened. She had thought last night was a bad dream, but here she was—real, solid, and terrifying in her calmness.
"Hello, Ava," Isabella said warmly, as if she had every right to be there. "What a surprise… I didn't expect to see you so soon."
Ava's fingers curled around the clipboard, her pulse thundering in her ears.
"What are you doing here?" she managed, her voice low, controlled.
Isabella tilted her head, all innocence.
"Oh, relax. I'm not here for you," she said lightly, though her gaze never left Ava's face. "A family friend is admitted here, and I came to visit. Imagine my luck, running into you."
Her smile lingered, soft but heavy with something Ava couldn't name.
Ava swallowed hard, knowing the truth—this was no coincidence. Isabella was tightening her web, thread by thread, and now even the hospital, her safe place, didn't feel safe anymore.
Ava walked briskly past Isabella, heels clicking against the floor, her heart pounding louder than her steps. She reached for her office door, hoping to shut it quickly before Isabella could follow.
But Isabella was fast. She slid her hand against the door, holding it open, refusing to let Ava close her out. Their eyes locked again for the 3rd time in nine long years—pain clashing with longing.
Ava (coldly): "I really don't wanna see you, Bella. You abandoned me for nine years. You gave up on us. You never even looked for me. Do you know how many nights I tried to find you? How many times I risked sneaking away from my mum just to go to your dad's mansion? And do you know what happened? Your mum told me never to come there again—said you didn't want me there."
Her voice cracked, but her anger held steady, pushing the tears back.
Isabella froze, her face paling. Confusion spread across her expression. Her chest tightened.
In her world, it was Ava who had disappeared, Ava who had left her behind after the most unforgettable night of her life.
"What? No, Ava… that's not true. That's not what happened. I thought you abandoned me."Bella whispered shaking her head.
"Don't twist this, Bella. I lived with that pain every single day. You made them take me away after—after us. After that night."Ava snapped
Memories hit Isabella hard—the warmth of Ava's lips, the trembling of her hands, the way Ava's heart had raced against hers. That moment had never left her, never dulled, even after all the years.
Isabella stepped forward, desperation in her voice.
"Babe, I'm sorry, but I can explain. It's not what you think. Please, just listen." Bella tried to explain.
"Don't 'babe' me, Bella! You wanna explain? Fine. Go ahead. Tell me why you vanished. Tell me why you let me suffer alone."Ava cut her off, voice shaking with fury.
Silence filled the office. Isabella's lips trembled as the words she'd hidden for years threatened to spill out.
"I love you, Ava. I have never stopped loving you. Not for a single second. I— I—"Bella said softly, eyes glistening.
Her voice broke. Before she could finish, she grabbed Ava, pulling her into a desperate hug, clutching her like she was afraid she'd vanish again.
But Ava stiffened and shoved her away with all the strength her shaking arms could gather.
"Don't you dare," Ava said, her voice hoarse and broken.
At that moment, a knock came at the door. The sound shattered the heavy silence between them. Isabella quickly stepped back, wiping her face, trying to mask the storm inside her chest.
The door opened, and Dolly walked in—confident, relaxed, with her stethoscope hanging casually around her neck. Her short-cut hair framed her tomboyish features, and her white lab coat swayed slightly as she moved toward Ava.
"Hey, babe."Dolly said with a warm smile.
She leaned down and placed a kiss on Ava's cheek, dangerously close to her lips.
Isabella's heart stopped. She felt a sting like a knife slicing through her chest.
Ava forced a smile, trying to keep the air calm.
"Honi, meet Bella. My childhood friend." Ava's tone was careful, almost hesitant. She knew too well when it came to chaos.
Bella's world tilted. The word friend echoed like thunder in her ears. Friend? After everything we shared? After the love that nearly destroyed me?
Her jaw tightened. Her chest burned.
She stared into Ava's eyes, searching for the truth behind that word, but all she saw was Ava's silent plea: Don't make a scene.
Turning to Dolly, Ava softened.
"Bella, this is my girlfriend, Dolly."
Dolly stepped forward, her hand extended politely, eyes kind.
"Nice to meet you, Bella."
Bella's hand stayed frozen by her side for a moment too long. Her eyes flicked back to Ava, hurt and rage mixing in equal measure. Finally, she raised her hand and shook Dolly's, forcing a stiff smile.
"Nice to meet you too." Bella forced a smile.
Her palm burned from the contact. Inside, her blood boiled. She wanted to scream, to tear the word girlfriend from Ava's lips, but instead she forced herself to stand still, her nails digging into her palm until they nearly broke skin.
Ava avoided Bella's eyes, pretending to shuffle papers on her desk, but Bella could see it—the flicker of guilt, the shadow of longing Ava was trying to hide.
And in that silent battle of glances, Bella knew one thing for certain: this wasn't over.
Isabella excused herself from the office with a calm smile, something that looked normal on the surface but felt strange to Ava.
"I'll let you two continue," Bella said softly. "I just remembered I need to check on something."
Her voice was even, almost too even. She walked out before anyone could respond.
In the parking lot, Isabella got into her car, closed the door, and finally dropped the mask. Her chest tightened, her throat burned, and tears rushed down before she could stop them. She gripped the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned pale.
"How can she…? With someone else?" she whispered hoarsely.
She pressed her forehead against the steering wheel and sobbed, her whole body shaking. The thought of Ava smiling, talking, and being close to another woman felt like knives stabbing her chest.
To Isabella, Ava wasn't just someone she loved—she was hers. Her woman. The idea of sharing her was unbearable. She screamed into the car, her voice raw, as if crying could empty the storm inside her.
After minutes of choking tears, Isabella wiped her face roughly, started the engine, and drove off. The road lights blurred through her wet eyes, but she didn't care. She needed to drown this fire.
She parked at the Velvet Eden club. The music was pounding, laughter and chatter spilling out from the doors. Isabella walked straight in, her face blank but her heart roaring.
"Shots," she ordered at the counter, her voice sharp. "Keep them coming."
One glass. Then another. Then another. Each burn down her throat was a poor attempt to silence the image of Ava with someone else. The crowd around her was loud, but inside, she was empty—broken glass trying to look whole.