His POV :
The door closed.
And for a second—
I almost turned back.
My hand lingered on the handle longer than it should have.
Just one step.
That's all it would take to go back in.
To say something. Anything.
But I didn't.
I let go—
and walked away.
The corridor felt longer than usual.
Quieter.
Or maybe it was just me.
Every step felt heavier, like I was leaving something behind—
or worse…
someone.
I pulled out my phone without thinking.
Her name was still there.
Just one message.
"I got there."
That's all it would take.
My thumb hovered over the screen—
then stopped.
What right did I have?
I had already crossed the line once.
Said things I shouldn't have.
Stepped into a place I didn't belong.
"You are not nothing."
The words came back to me.
I meant them.
Every single one.
And maybe… that was the problem.
---
Days passed.
Work didn't stop.
Patients. Rounds. Reports.
Everything moved like it always did.
So I moved with it.
Laughed when people talked.
Answered when they asked.
Stayed normal.
Because it was easier that way.
Because if I stopped—
I'd think of her.
---
Once…
I saw her.
At the end of the corridor.
Just for a second.
She didn't notice me.
Or maybe she did… and chose not to.
I didn't move.
Didn't call out.
Didn't even take a step.
I just stood there—
and let the moment pass.
Like I always do.
---
Why didn't I go to her?
The answer was simple.
And stupid.
And still… it was enough to stop me.
Because if I stayed—
I wouldn't be able to leave again.
And I had already decided…
I had to.
---
So I kept my distance.
Not because she meant nothing.
But because she meant too much.
---
At night, when everything finally went quiet—
when there was nothing left to distract me—
That's when it got harder.
That's when her voice came back.
Her silence too.
Especially her silence.
I picked up my phone more times than I could count.
Typed.
Erased.
Locked the screen.
Unlocked it again.
Nothing stayed.
Nothing was sent.
---
She's better off this way.
That's what I told myself.
That's what I needed to believe.
Still…
Every time I passed that corridor—
I looked.
Just once.
Just in case.
She never noticed.
Or maybe…
she did.