Chapter 4 — Back from the Flames

Jaclyn

The hospital corridor stretched endlessly before me, every fluorescent light above casting a sterile glow that seemed to magnify the tightness in my chest. My heels clicked against the polished tile in a measured rhythm, but inside, my thoughts churned. Elena’s words—*You can’t fix other people’s hearts if your own is out of sync*—echoed in my mind, stirring truths I wasn’t ready to confront.