CHAPTER 171

HAZEL

Another day, another excuse not to show up at the hospital. I couldn’t bring myself to face a patient, to look them in the eyes and offer them that practiced smile, telling them everything would be fine when, in reality, my own life felt like it was falling apart around me. I was sinking, and nothing seemed to make sense anymore.

Sprawled out on the sofa with a half-empty bottle of water, I