I hadn't stepped foot in a hospital in years, and walking into one now, alone, without a hand to hold, felt strange in a way I didn't expect. It was here I'd finally get it confirmed properly — not just the two lines on a test I'd taken alone in a bathroom weeks ago, but the real thing, the doctor's word, the proof. I sat in the waiting room fidgeting with the hem of my sleeve, watching other people come and go, half of them with someone beside them, and I told myself firmly that I didn't need that."First time here?" The receptionist glanced up at me, kind but efficient."First time in years," I said."And is dad joining you today?"The question landed harder than she meant it to. "No," I said, steadier than I felt. "It's just me."She didn't push, just nodded and handed me a clipboard, and I sat there filling out forms with a pen that skipped every third letter, my knee bouncing under the table the whole time.When the nurse finally called my name, I followed her back, heart doing s
Last Updated : 2026-09-22 Read more