Chapter 1: An Unexpected Encounter
Sarah sat quietly in the hospital’s waiting area, fingers resting on her lap as she waited for her appointment. The dull ache in her lower back was familiar now—a silent companion she’d learned to bear.
Suddenly, a man in a white coat approached her.
“Hi there,” he smiled gently. “I’m Dr. Nasrul, a psychologist here. We’re doing a quick patient survey, would you mind answering a few questions?”
Sarah nodded, curious. The questions were light, easy—mostly about emotions, routines, and thoughts. Nasrul’s voice was calm and steady, but his eyes… they held a certain warmth.
Just before he turned to leave, he paused.
“Would it be alright if I get your number?”
Caught off guard, Sarah blinked. Without much thought, she gave it.
Then she asked, half-jokingly, “What’s it for?”
He looked at her with a slight smirk. “For me. I’ll contact you after work.”
She watched him walk away, heart skipping a little. Will he really text? she wondered. Probably not…
But that night, her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number:
Hi. It's me – Nasrul. From the hospital.
Her eyes widened. He really texted!
They talked for hours. From small talk to deep conversations, laughter to silent pauses.
Before ending, he asked:
“Do you have someone in your life right now?”
“No,” Sarah replied honestly.
“Then... would you let me try to be that someone?”
She was stunned. But her heart was strangely at ease.
“…Sure,” she typed. “Let’s try.”
