The next morning, her pain had dulled into a manageable throb. She asked a different nurse, “Can I visit Aiden today? Just for a minute?” The nurse gave a sympathetic smile. “I think he’s already been discharged. Let me check…”
She tapped at her screen, then paused. “Yeah—he left yesterday afternoon. Said he was feeling strong enough to recover at home.” Maya stared at her. “But… he didn’t say goodbye.” The nurse gently placed her discharge papers on the tray. “Maybe he just needed space to rest. It happens.”