PROLOGUE
By the time we reached the coast, I had almost forgotten what it felt like to have nowhere I needed to be.
For months, my life had revolved around hospital corridors, unpredictable shifts, and the constant feeling that there weren’t enough hours in a day. I had grown used to eating dinner at strange times, falling asleep with my phone beside me, and measuring my weeks by the number of hours I could spend in bed.
Two weeks away from all of that sounded almost too good to be true.
“You’re doing it again,” Sienna said from the driver’s seat.
I turned toward her. “Doing what?”
“Thinking about work.”
“I’m looking at the sea.”
“With that expression? Definitely work.”
I smiled and rested my head against the seat.
Outside the window, the road curved along the coastline, revealing small villages tucked between green hills and stretches of brilliant blue water. The afternoon sun caught the white walls of houses scattered above the shore, and every few minutes, we passed another narrow road leading down toward a beach. For the first time in weeks, I was beginning to feel as though I could actually relax.
Sienna lowered her sunglasses and glanced at me.
“I have two rules for this holiday.”
“Only two? That’s surprisingly reasonable.”
“First, no checking your work schedule every five minutes.”
“I don’t do that.”
She gave me a look.
“Fine. What’s the second?”
“You’re going to enjoy yourself.”
“That sounds more like an order than a rule.”
“Whatever works.”
I laughed and turned back toward the window.
Sienna had been my best friend for as long as I could remember. We were different in almost every way that mattered. She loved crowded places, spontaneous plans, and meeting new people. I preferred quieter evenings, familiar company, and knowing roughly what to expect.
Somehow, we’d always made it work.
She was the person who dragged me out of my routines when I became too comfortable in them. I was usually the one reminding her that not every problem could be solved by making another plan. Despite our differences, there was nobody I would rather spend two weeks with.
“Lucas is already at the villa,” she said, checking the navigation screen. “He says the terrace is amazing.”
“Good. I plan to spend a considerable amount of time there.”
“Reading?”
“Among other things.”
“Elena.”
“What?”
“We are not spending our entire holiday sitting on a terrace.”
“I didn’t say entire.”
She shook her head, laughing.
“Tonight, we’re going out.”
I looked at her.
“We’ve been driving for hours.”
“Exactly. We deserve a drink.”
“One drink?”
She smiled.
I knew that smile.
“Sienna.”
“Just trust me. Leo is coming too and I can’t wait for you two to meet.”
I sighed, although I was already laughing. There was no point arguing with her when she had made up her mind.
A few minutes later, the road curved toward the harbor, where boats rocked gently in the afternoon breeze and the waterfront was lined with cafés, restaurants, and people enjoying the sunshine. I rolled down my window, letting the warm air fill the car. It carried the familiar scent of saltwater and pine trees, and I found myself taking a deeper breath than I had in days. For the first time in weeks, my thoughts weren’t occupied by work, unfinished tasks, or everything waiting for me when I returned home.
I had no particular expectations for the holiday. I wanted to sleep without setting an alarm, spend long afternoons by the water, and enjoy the kind of unhurried conversations that were so difficult to fit into everyday life. Most of all, I wanted to spend time with Sienna without constantly checking the clock or thinking about where I needed to be next. Two weeks of sunshine, good company, and a little freedom from routine sounded like more than enough.
Beside me, Sienna turned up the music as we entered the first streets of the village. She was already singing along, occasionally getting the lyrics wrong, and I couldn’t help smiling as I watched her tap her fingers against the steering wheel. Whatever she had planned for us, I knew there would be very little chance of boredom. I settled back into my seat, looked out at the colorful buildings passing by, and allowed myself to enjoy the simple fact that, for once, I had nowhere else I needed to be.
