NELINA

The conversation with Royce in the hospital keeps replaying in my head. Royce seems really happy helping my family that I could not help but be curious about his own family. His parents, he said, left him when he was little. It must have been hard for him. The thought of it crushed my heart.

It was all about me, my anxiety, my family, and my job. He always made time for me. I forcefully shut my eyes and suppressed the guilt inside. I should be reciprocating all the love he gave me; I don't want him to feel that way, not seeing his worth.

My nails raked on...