A Nurse’s Murmur and Sudden Relief
Her hand froze mid-reach. She stared at him, shock replacing frenzy. He walked over, slowly but steadily, expression a mix of apology and relief. "A-Wen..." he murmured softly. Like a puppet cut loose, she crumpled. I caught her. He hurried closer, pulling her into a tight embrace.
A Frozen Moment and Reunion
She sagged against him, face buried in his neck, shaking violently—not crying, but convulsing from shock. "It’s alright, it’s alright..." he soothed, rubbing her back. "My phone shattered—totally dead. I was dazed... stepped out at the station to take a call, slipped on wet stairs, hit my head. A bystander brought me here..." He spoke slowly, exhausted. She clung harder, knuckles white on his shirt.
An Exhausted Embrace and the Belated Explanation
Gradually, the tremors eased into quiet sobs. She lifted her face, tear-streaked and swollen, finally unleashing a muffled wail—the accumulated terror of the day. On the drive home, rain eased. Streetlights stretched on wet roads. He drove; she curled in the passenger seat, head on his shoulder, fingers gripping his uninjured arm as if he’d vanish. Silent and wide-eyed, she stared at passing lights, dazed by survival.
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