AT LOVE 23

Chapter 23 

ASHLEY 

The feeling hit me like a punch to the gut. It was as if the world had shifted beneath my feet, throwing me off balance. 

Should I go to him? Maybe thank him for last night? For the way he’d shown up when I needed him, even though everything between us had fallen apart? That might have been the right thing to do. 

But then, I paused 

No. That would be too much. It would feel forced, like trying to rekindle something that had long since burned out. 

Or 

I could just go back to the waiting room, pretend like I didn’t even see him just like I’d been ignoring the ache in my chest for months now. 

That was the rational choice and the safest 

But… 

A thought gnawed at me, relentless and insistent. 

What was he doing here? 

His presence at the hospital isn’t normal. At first, I’d brushed it off, convinced it was just a coincidence. Maybe he had a check–up or something. But I’ve caught a glimpse of him multiple times now- in passing, in the lobby, by the elevators, walking through the halls. 

It wasn’t like him to be here so often, and the last time I checked, he didn’t work at the hospital. 

I couldn’t just turn around and ignore him. That was easier said than done. 

I peered cautiously through the glass doors, half–hidden behind a column, trying to catch a glimpse of him without drawing attention to myself. My breath hitched as I saw him making his way toward the hospital’s side entrance, his gait purposeful as if he was heading somewhere specific. 

My curiosity sharpened. There was something strange about it, something that tugged at me with increasing urgency. 

Taking a deep breath, I knew what I was about to do was dumb. I knew I was crossing a line, letting my curiosity get the better of me. But I couldn’t help it. 

This wasn’t right. It wasn’t my business. But the more I thought about it, the more the need to understand why he was here overwhelmed my better judgment. 

I had no idea what I was hoping to find. No clue what the hell I was even doing. But before I could second–guess myself, my feet were already in motion, following him at a distance. 

I would keep my distance, stay far enough behind him that he wouldn’t notice. I wouldn’t draw attention to myself. I wouldn’t make a scene. I just needed to know what he was doing here. After all, curiosity couldn’t be helped, could it? 

Just a quick look. Just enough to understand why he was here. That was it. 

And then I would leave. I would walk away, no harm done. 

I kept a steady pace, making sure I stayed hidden in the shadows, well behind him, careful not to let him catch a glimpse of me. My heart was pounding in my chest, every step feeling heavier as I tried to keep my presence as discreet as possible. He wasn’t too far ahead, but he was moving with purpose, turning corners and heading deeper into the hospital. 

I felt like an intruder, like I was doing something wrong. Every instinct screamed at me to turn around, to stop this before it got out of hand. But I couldn’t. My feet kept moving, and my mind was too occupied with the question that refused to leave. 

1 

Why was he here? What was he doing? 

My mind raced as I followed him through the hospital corridors. We passed nurses and patients, people moving in and out of rooms. I kept my distance, careful to stay out of his line of sight. My body felt like it was on high alert, tense with the need to stay unseen, to gather whatever information I could before making a quick getaway. 

We reached another hallway, and he turned sharply, entering a section of the hospital I didn’t recognize. It was quieter here, a bit more private. I had no idea where he was headed, but it didn’t feel like the main part of the hospital anymore. 

1/2 

Chapter 23 

I had no business following him. I knew that. 

Then, without warning, he stopped. 

My heart skipped a beat. I froze in place, my breath caught in my throat. He didn’t turn around immediately, but I could feel the tension in the air, like he knew someone was there. My pulse raced as I tried to make myself as small as possible, pressing my back against the wall, my breath shallow. 

I cursed under my breath, panic flooding my chest. 

Please don’t see me. Please don’t see me. 

Chapter Comments