Pov Author
The hospital corridor was quiet, washed in the pale glow of ceiling lights that hummed softly above. It was late evening — that hour when most of the city slowed down, but inside *St. Claire's Oncology Center*, time never really stopped. The air smelled faintly of disinfectant and rain drifting in through the open windows at the far end of the hall. **Dr. Anna Brown** walked alone through the silence, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. Her white coat swayed lightly as she moved, dark hair tied neatly back, with a few loose strands brushing against her cheeks. There was something graceful about her — the kind of calm that came only from years of holding herself together for others.
Just as she finished checking on her young patient, her phone buzzed — and something inside her tensed when she saw the name on the screen. **Alexander.** She answered quickly, her tone soft at first. "Alex?" The voice that came through made her heart drop — weak, strained, trembling. "Anna… I'm not feeling well," he breathed out, his words uneven. "It's bad… I can't… breathe properly." Panic surged through her chest like a wave. "Alex, listen to me," she said, her calm professional tone slipping into fear. "Don't move, don't do anything. I'm coming, okay? Just stay where you are. I'll be there in fifteen minutes." Her voice shook as she ended the call, her heart pounding so hard it drowned out the steady beeps of the machines behind her.
Without another thought, she turned and ran down the corridor, her footsteps echoing sharply against the marble floor. The world blurred around her — white walls, distant voices, the sterile smell of antiseptic fading behind. She burst through the hospital doors and into the parking lot, fumbling for her car keys with shaking hands. The rain had just begun to fall, soft and cold against her face, but she didn't care. As she slid into the driver's seat, one thought consumed her — she had already lost one man she loved when she was six, her father. She couldn't lose another. Not Alexander. Not tonight.
Her heart raced as the car sped through the wet, glistening streets, the wipers struggling to clear the blur of rain and tears clouding her vision. The memory of her father flickered in her mind — his gentle smile, his hand ruffling her hair before that one dreadful day when everything went silent. She had promised herself she would never feel that kind of loss again, but tonight, fear clawed at her chest with the same sharp edge. By the time she reached their mansion, her pulse was pounding so hard it hurt. She stopped the car abruptly at the entrance, barely remembering to shut the door before running inside.
The grand marble hallway that usually glowed with warmth and soft light was now cloaked in darkness. The silence pressed heavily around her, broken only by the faint echo of her footsteps. "Alex?" she called, her voice trembling as it carried through the emptiness. No answer. Panic rose, cold and suffocating. "Alexander!" she called again, louder this time, her words cracking. For a moment, there was nothing — until a weak, muffled cough echoed from upstairs. Her heart lurched.
Without thinking, Anna dashed toward the staircase, her heels clattering against the steps as she ran up to their bedroom. Every breath felt like a prayer, every heartbeat a desperate plea that he would be there — alive, waiting, safe. She pushed open the door, breathless, her pulse thundering in her ears — but what she saw made her freeze. The room glowed softly, bathed in the golden flicker of **candles** scattered across the tables and floor. **Rose petals** were strewn everywhere — on the carpet, the bed, even along the path leading to the center of the room. The faint scent of vanilla and roses filled the air, wrapping around her like warmth after a storm. On the bed sat a small cake, its white frosting gleaming under candlelight, the words written in delicate chocolate: **"Happy 1st Anniversary."**
For a moment, Anna just stood there, her chest rising and falling as confusion melted into something gentler — relief, disbelief, and a trembling kind of love. Her eyes glistened as she let out a long sigh, half laughter, half tears. The fear that had gripped her moments ago slowly loosened its hold. She turned, ready to call out his name — when suddenly, a pair of familiar arms wrapped around her waist from behind.
"Surprise, baby," **Alexander** whispered, his voice soft and filled with a smile she could hear even before she saw it. She turned slightly, meeting his deep blue eyes that shimmered in the candlelight. His hair was a little tousled, his lips curved in that boyish grin that still made her heart flutter. All the panic, the worry, the tears — they melted away the moment she saw him. Standing there, in the glow of flickering light and love, she realized how easily fear could turn into something beautiful.
Anna spun around and lightly hit his chest with her fists, her voice trembling between laughter and tears. "You scared me, Alex!" she said, her tone breaking as a tear slipped down her cheek. He caught her hands gently, pulling her closer until she was pressed against him. The scent of him — familiar, comforting — filled her senses as his arms wrapped around her in a slow, protective embrace.
"I'm sorry," he murmured into her hair, his voice soft and sincere. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to surprise you." She felt his heart beating against her cheek, steady and real, grounding her after the panic that had nearly undone her. For a second, she simply held on, feeling the warmth of his body and the quiet love that lived between them — the kind that didn't need words to be felt.
Then she pulled back slightly, looking up at him through glassy eyes. "No, you don't have to apologize," she whispered, her lips curving into a small, guilty smile. "I should be the one saying sorry. I… I forgot our anniversary today." Her voice cracked, and she lowered her gaze, ashamed. But Alex only smiled — that soft, forgiving smile that had first made her fall for him. "Hey," he said gently, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "It's okay, Anna. You're a doctor — you spend your days saving other people's lives. I'm just lucky to have you come home to me."
Alexander took her hand, his thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles. "Come with me," he said softly, a teasing glint in his blue eyes. Still dazed from everything, Anna let him lead her toward the balcony. When the doors opened, a soft breeze drifted in, carrying the faint scent of roses and night air. The balcony had been transformed — a small table stood in the center, draped with white linen and surrounded by candles flickering like stars fallen to earth. A bottle of wine chilled beside two crystal glasses, and dinner was arranged neatly on delicate porcelain plates. Above them, the night sky stretched wide and clear, the city lights below twinkling like distant constellations.
Anna's lips parted in awe. "You did all this… for me?" she whispered, her voice barely above the wind. Alexander smiled, pulling out a chair for her. "For us," he corrected softly. They sat together under the soft glow of the moon, their laughter mingling with the hum of the night. The stress of hospital corridors and lonely hours faded as they talked — about their first meeting, their dreams, their silly arguments. For a while, it felt as if time itself had slowed just for them, letting them remember how it all began.
When the plates were nearly empty and her laughter had softened into quiet smiles, Alexander reached into his pocket. "I have one more thing," he said, standing and stepping beside her. From a small velvet box, he pulled out a delicate **necklace** — a thin silver chain with a heart-shaped pendant that shimmered in the candlelight. Anna's breath caught as he clasped it around her neck, his fingers brushing the skin at the base of her throat. "To remind you," he murmured, "that even when you forget the date… you'll never forget what we mean to each other." She turned, eyes shining, and for a moment, neither of them spoke — the night itself seemed to hold its breath around them.
Alexander's fingers lingered for a moment after fastening the clasp, his touch gentle against her skin. The pendant rested perfectly against her collarbone, catching the flicker of the candlelight. Anna looked down at it, then back up at him, her lips curving into a soft, touched smile. "It's beautiful," she whispered, her voice barely steady.
He smiled — that warm, boyish smile that never failed to melt her. "I'm glad you like it," he said quietly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Because I want you to wear it tomorrow night… at our anniversary party." His voice was teasing, but his eyes carried that depth — the look of a man completely in love.
Anna blinked, surprised. "There's a party?" she asked, half-laughing. Alexander chuckled and nodded. "Of course there is. Did you really think I'd stop at candles and dinner? Everyone's coming — friends, family. But," he added, his gaze softening, "I wanted tonight to be just ours. No one else. Just you and me." Anna felt her throat tighten as she leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder. The necklace shimmered softly between them — a small, perfect reminder of everything they'd built: love, chaos, and the quiet moments that made it all worth it.
End of this chapter