All Chapters of After Five Years: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

My footsteps sounded heavy as I walked down the hospital corridor that morning. Each fluorescent light overhead felt too bright, and the clinking of medical equipment from afar sounded sharper than usual. There was something hanging in my chest—a mix of unresolved anger and unavoidable sadness.I took a deep breath, trying to calm the tumult within me as my hand touched the doorknob of my room. With a bit of hesitation, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Once inside, I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to absorb the calm that should be present in this room.The room was quiet, as usual. The familiar antiseptic smell welcomed me, soothing yet reminding me that I needed to refocus. Medical reports were neatly arranged on the desk, my lab coat hung behind the door. On a small table by the window, there was a vase with fresh flowers, placed there by Dita, my devoted nurse.I forced a small smile at Dita's thoughtfulness. The bright flowers brought a

Aisha's POV “Thank you, Julien,” I said sincerely. “If it weren’t for you believing in and pushing this proposal, I might still be keeping it in a drawer right now.”Julien looked at me for a long time. There was a deep sincerity in his eyes. But as always, he maintained his distance, not crossing into territory I hadn’t necessarily allowed him to explore. While I appreciated that boundary, sometimes I wished I could share more.He then stood up and gently tapped the folder on the table. “In that case, I’ll also send all these files via email so you can study them in more detail later.”I stood up as well, nodding. “Thank you for coming in person. It means a lot to me.”“Glad to help,” he replied, his smile showing satisfaction. However, there was a sense that he wanted to say more, something held back between us.After a few seconds of silence, he added, “Don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything you want to di

Aisha's POV The sun had completely set behind the trees when we returned to the village hall. The air began to cool, and the sound of crickets replaced the cheerful noise of children who welcomed us earlier in the day. My body was tired, but my heart felt full. Today was the beginning of something big.We were warmly welcomed by the villagers, who seemed enthusiastic about our arrival. Every smile and greeting made me feel accepted, and I knew we were in the right place. With slow steps, I observed my surroundings; the simple houses and the strong sense of community moved me."What do you think?" Julien asked, walking beside me."I feel very excited," I replied, looking at the friendly faces gathered around us. "They are very open and eager to learn."Julien smiled. "I feel it too. This is the first step in building a deeper relationship with them."As we entered the village hall, I saw a large whiteboard prepared for discussio

Aisha's POV We walked along the side of the house, passing small bushes and a low wooden fence. However, there were no signs of anything suspicious. No people, no footsteps, just the night sounds taking over again.The air felt calm, and although there was a slight sense of unease, I felt a deep tranquility. Suddenly, Julien stopped for a moment, staring into the darkness of the night. “Do you hear that?” he asked, his voice low.I looked around, trying to catch what sound he might mean. Only the chirping of crickets and the gentle wind rustling through the trees. “No, what do you hear?” I replied, a bit anxious.“It sounds like something in the distance,” he said, still listening intently. I followed, trying to listen better. But the sounds of the night continued to dominate, both calming and mysterious.“Let’s keep walking,” I suggested, trying to dispel my anxiety. We continued on, remaining alert but also trying to enjoy this m

Aisha's POV The morning sunlight sneaked through the gaps in the thin curtains of this simple house, forcing my eyes to open slowly. I rolled over gently and stretched out my hand, but I realized this room was empty. There was no sound. Silence. I sat up and looked around, realizing I was alone in the room."Julien...?" I called softly, but there was no answer.I stood up, put on a thin jacket and stepped out of our temporary bedroom. The morning air was cold and fresh, the scent of wet soil still lingering from last night's dew. In front of the house, a middle-aged woman stood holding a tray containing two cups of tea and a plate of boiled sweet potatoes."Good morning, Doctor Aisha," greeted Mrs. Narti, the homeowner's mother, with a friendly smile. "Here's a simple breakfast first, yes. Sorry if it's simple."I returned the warm smile and welcomed the tray she offered. "Thank you so much, Bu. This means a lot. But... if I may ask, where did Julien go?""O