Lily sat alone in the quiet room after Eric left, the soft ticking of the wall clock the only sound breaking the silence. Her mind wandered, not to her illness, but to Tim. She couldn't shake the thought of him, no matter how hard she tried. It frustrated her to no end—how could he not understand her feelings after all these years of subtle hints and secret glances?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

The door opened, and a tall, kind-looking man stepped inside. "Hello, Lily," he greeted, extending a warm smile. "I'm Dr. LaRoux."

Lily blinked, snapping back to reality. "Hello, Dr. LaRoux. It’s nice to meet you."

Dr. LaRoux glanced over her charts, nodding thoughtfully. "I’ve reviewed your file, and I see you have a lump in your breast. Let me ask you a few questions before we proceed."

Lily nodded. “Of course, doctor.”

"Do you feel any pain near the lump?" he asked, his voice calm and professional.

"No, not really," she replied. "But it’s sensitive around my time of the month."

Dr. LaRoux jotted down some notes. "Has the skin ever felt hot to the touch?"

Lily shook her head. "No, it hasn’t caused me any pain or felt hot. It just… it’s just there."

He gave her a reassuring smile. "That’s a good sign. I’m going to need to palpate the area and examine the tissue surrounding the lump. Please put this gown on," he said, handing her a light-blue hospital gown from the drawer. "I’ll step out for a moment."

Once the examination was complete, Lily sat back up, relieved that part was over. Dr. LaRoux excused himself to review her results and discuss treatment options, leaving her alone with her thoughts once again. The silence settled around her, heavy with uncertainty.

A soft knock on the door startled her, and Dr. LaRoux stepped back in. Just as he was about to speak, another knock followed.

"Come in," Dr. LaRoux called.

The door cracked open, and a woman’s head peeked through. "Hi, Dad," she said softly. "The patient is my friend’s little sister. I wanted to check in and see how she’s doing."

Lily stared, recognizing the woman instantly. She was beautiful—calm, with a sincerity that radiated from her. This must be Emily.

Dr. LaRoux smiled, nodding at his daughter. "Come in, Emily. We were just about to discuss Lily’s treatment."

Emily entered the room, and following closely behind was Eric. Lily smiled, though her heart fluttered with nerves.

"Hi," Lily greeted, trying to sound composed. "I’m Eric’s sister. He’s told me a lot about you. I hope we can be friends."

Emily looked slightly taken aback, but her smile was genuine. "Nice to meet you, Lily. I hope so, too."

Lily took in Emily’s gentle demeanor and kind smile, realizing just how perfect she seemed for her brother. For the first time in a long while, Lily felt a sense of relief. She understood now why Eric had fallen so hard for her.

Emily’s soft voice pulled Lily from her thoughts. "I’m sorry to hear you’re not feeling well. But don’t worry—my dad’s the best. You’re in great hands."

"She’s right," Dr. LaRoux added. "We’ve caught the lump early, and it hasn’t progressed too far. With a small surgery to remove it, I’m confident we can get all the cancerous cells out."

"Just a small surgery?" Eric asked, his voice filled with cautious hope. "And she’ll be fine?"

"Yes," Dr. LaRoux confirmed. "Afterward, we’ll schedule a follow-up to make sure the cancer hasn’t returned. But things look promising."

Eric’s face lit up, and he rushed to hug Lily tightly. "You hear that, Lily? You’re going to be okay!"

A wave of relief washed over her, and for the first time in weeks, she felt a sense of hope. "I’m not going to die," she whispered, smiling up at Eric. "I’m really going to be okay."

Eric let go of her, turning to Dr. LaRoux with gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you, doctor. I don’t know how to thank you enough."

Dr. LaRoux shook his hand warmly. "You’re very welcome. I’m glad I can help. Now, Lily, let’s get you scheduled for surgery. We’ll have you back to full health in no time."

Lily nodded, still feeling a bit dazed from the good news. "Thank you, doctor."

As they walked back to the front desk, Lily couldn’t help but glance at Emily again. She smiled to herself, grateful that her brother had found someone so wonderful.

"I’m glad my dad could help you," Emily said kindly.

"Thank you," Lily replied, giving her a sincere smile. "You two can finish talking. I’ll wait in the car, Eric."

Eric nodded, watching as Lily made her way to the exit. Emily waved goodbye with a smile, and as Lily left the office, a bittersweet feeling settled over her heart.

She was grateful—so incredibly grateful for the good news. But as she walked to the car, her mind drifted back to Tim. She thought of the years she’d spent secretly in love with him, the unspoken feelings she’d kept hidden for so long.

"Emily seems like my brother’s perfect match," Lily thought, a faint smile crossing her lips. "I’m happy for them. But… when will I find my own happiness?"

She sighed, shaking off the thought as she got into the car. For now, she would focus on healing. Love, she told herself, could wait.