The Day Our Promise Breaks

Her sleep quality had been lacking lately. Over the past several months, he'd

gone out of his way to find all sorts of calming aromatherapy scents just for her, hoping she'd drift off into peaceful slumber each night.

"Alright," Evelyn said, accepting the gift.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

After exchanging goodnights, Evelyn headed inside. She went straight to her bedroom and lit the aromatherapy candle. It was her favorite scent. By the time she was out of the bath, the room was filled with a gentle fragrance. Snuggling into bed, she snapped a picture of the candle and sent it to Brooks.

Evelyn: [I love it.]

Downstairs, Brooks couldn't help but smile as he replied.

Brooks: [Sweet dreams.]

Evelyn: [It's late; you should get some rest too.]

Though she didn't check, she was sure Brooks was still lingering downstairs.

Brooks: [Alright.]

He sent her a snapshot of his car exiting the neighborhood.

Evelyn: [Drive safe.]

Brooks: [Will do. Get some early shut-eye.]

Evelyn shot back an "Okay" and was just about to set her phone down when a new message popped up. She hadn't saved the number, but she recognized it instantly. It was Charles. His message was short and not-so-sweet: [Break up with Brooks.]

Evelyn rolled her eyes and ignored Charles's audacious demand. Just as she was about to block him, another message came through: [Eve, listen to me, don't make me angry.]

With a sigh, she tossed her phone onto the nightstand and switched off the lamp. Surrounded by the soothing aroma, she soon slipped into a dreamless sleep.

She woke to the morning light streaming in, nearly eight o'clock.

She got up, whipped up breakfast for Josephine, and headed to the hospital. After a quiet breakfast with Josephine, someone knocked on the door. "Ms. Evelyn, Dr. Nelson would like to see you in his office."

"Alright, I'll be right there."

Today's visit was all about

discussing Josephine's surgery. Her condition had taken a turn for the worse yesterday, and Andrew had mentioned the possibility of moving up the surgery. It was too late to talk further then, so they agreed to pick up the conversation today.

Evelyn hurried to Andrew's office.

"Dr. Nelson, is my mom's surgery going to be moved up?"

"Ms. Evelyn, please sit down."

Andrew, noticing the worry in her eyes, tightened his grip on the pen he was holding and gestured for her to take a seat. Evelyn sat immediately, her gaze fixed on Andrew, bracing for what he had to say.

Andrew didn't beat around the bush: "Ms. Evelyn, I recommend finding another surgeon. I can't do this surgery."

Evelyn was taken aback, needing a few moments to process his words. "Dr. Nelson, what do you mean? Why can't you operate on my mom anymore?"

"Is her condition so severe that even you don't have confidence in the surgery?"

She and Brooks had scoured every corner for specialists, but no one was willing to take on her mother's case. Andrew had been their last hope. Now he was saying he couldn't do it either. Did this mean

ve

she was supposed to just stand by and watch her mother slip away?

Evelyn's face went pale, feeling like she'd been plunged into an icy abyss. First Charlie, then Rosa, and now, was she going to lose her mother too?

"Dr. Nelson, please, you have to help... save my mother."

Evelyn clung to Andrew's wrist, pleading desperately.

"Ms. Evelyn, I'm not the one you need to convince."

Andrew gently pulled his wrist away, his demeanor distant and unreachable.

Evelyn was stunned. What did he mean she needed to convince someone else? He was the surgeon who else was there to turn to?noveldrama

As her mind spun, Charles's messages from last night suddenly resurfaced in her thoughts: [Break up with Brooks.]