Morning came quietly over Lucid City, spilling pale gold across the streets and through Riah's small apartment window,she stirred awake, her body sore but her heart steady ready to face another day, after a quick shower and a cup of herbal tea, she kissed her mother softly on the forehead, "I'll be back soon," she whispered before heading out into the city that never truly slept, by seven thirty, she was already at Lucid General Hospital scrubs pressed, hair tied neatly, her familiar gentle smile in place,the smell of antiseptic lingered in the corridors, mixed with the faint aroma of fruit from the cafeteria. The children's ward waited each small face a reason for her relentless kindness, "Good morning, Miss Riah!" a cheerful voice called.She turned and smiled. "Good morning, Marcus."Marcus, barely six, had sleeping disorders that often left him restless through the night, He called her Miss Sunny, a nickname that warmed her heart no matter how heavy the day felt., "Did you sleep well?" she asked. He shook his head, frowning. "Not really. But you make today better."Riah chuckled softly. "That's my job to make every day brighter." morning drifted by, in a blur of laughter, bandages, and soft lullabies. She moved with an effortless rhythm that made the ward feel safe like sunlight through a window, between doses and smiles, she thought about her best friend, Nessa. For the past week, Nessa had been relentless about the hospital's upcoming charity fundraiser."Marcus is counting on you," her text read earlier that morning. "Don't make me drag you there!"
It wasn't just a party. It was an event linked to Louis Ray — a wealthy philanthropist who funded most of the hospital's programs, but behind Louis stood someone else… someone whose name carried weight and mystery in Lucid's elite circles. Lucian Fox.
Riah didn't know much about him, only that people spoke of him in whispers — as if the air itself bent when he entered a room, still the thought didn't concern her, she had children to care for and charts to fill.
By midday, Riah shift slowed, and Marcus clung to her arm as she tucked him into bed.
"Miss Sunny," he murmured sleepily, "promise you'll come tomorrow?"
"I promise," she said softly, brushing his hair back, He smiled before drifting off, and she stood there a moment longer, watching him breathe, when her shift finally ended, Riah stepped out into the cool drizzle of Lucid's afternoon, the streets shimmered with reflections — city lights gliding across wet pavement, she walked quietly, letting the rain kiss her cheeks, that was when a sleek black Range Rover slowed beside her, the window rolled down, revealing a man in his mid-thirties with a smile too sharp to be kind.
"Hey, beautiful," he said smoothly. "Need a ride?"
Riah ignored him, her steps calm, eyes forward.
The car rolled alongside her. "Come on, don't be shy."
She stopped, her voice polite but firm. "Mr, I'm married and my husband doesn't like me talking to strangers, please stop following me."
He chuckled. "Then maybe he shouldn't let his wife walk alone."
Her patience snapped. "I said no! Back off."
But he didn't. He parked abruptly, stepping out, and caught her wrist. Fear flashed across her face not because she was weak, but because this kind of darkness always came uninvited, before she could speak, a familiar voice cut through the rain,
"Hey! Get your filthy hands off her!"It was Nessa,she stormed across the street, her umbrella forgotten, fury blazing in her eyes. One quick punch to the man's jaw, a knee to his stomach, and he stumbled backward, gasping, Riah could only stare, half horrified, half in awe."Run!" Nessa hissed, grabbing her hand. The two darted down the wet street, laughing breathlessly once they were far enough away, Riah's laughter spilled out between gasps, "You're insane! Nessa", "And you love me for it!" Nessa grinned, still panting, they didn't stop running until they reached Riah's apartment building, they both collapsed against the wall, soaked and laughing like children, inside, the warm scent of chocolate pie greeted them, Riah's mother looked up from the kitchen, smiling knowingly, "You girls look like you fought the rain and lost." Nessa grinned, "But we won the war." Dinner was simple — laughter, warmth, and a feeling Riah hadn't felt in a while. Family.
Later that night, when the laughter faded and the dishes were washed, Riah stood by the window, staring at the drizzle outside, her reflection shimmered faintly in the glass.
Would she ever meet someone who would love her, more than her father once did, someone who would really see her beneath the calm, the smiles, the endless giving?
She touched the glass, tracing the raindrops as they slid down, a whisper of memory brushed through her, a voice that didn't belong to the present. "You call for me…"
Her heart skipped. But it was gone just as quickly — replaced by the hum of the city. She sighed and went to bed, letting exhaustion pull her under, the next morning, Riah woke before dawn, showered, and tied her hair neatly. The city was still gray when she arrived at the hospital, she did her usual sign in and went to the children ward to see the children, but marcus's bed was empty, her heart clenched —she asked the working nurse if they had seen Marcus, she was told he was being taking to the ICU because he got worst last night. Riah rushed to the ICU she sat outside while the operation was going on, she waited until she was able to see him, small and fragile under the white lights, Machines hummed softly beside him, "Marcus…" she whispered, taking his little hand. His breathing was shallow, but he stirred slightly."Miss Sunny?" he whispered faintly, "I'm here, baby. Rest now." His heart rate finally steadied, Riah's knees nearly gave way from relief. She sat by his bedside until he drifted back into gentle sleep. Outside, the rain had returned, her phone buzzed with a message from Nessa:"How's my favorite sunshine?" Riah typed back, "He's stable. I almost lost him."After a pause, another message appeared:
"I'm so sorry Riah, you must have been shaken and so scared " I'm sorry, Marcus needs you so please attend the fundraiser for Marcus for all the children and those sick people in the hospital, c'mon Riah." Nessa replied.
Riah smiled weakly. "Alright. I'll go."
Nessa's reply came instantly. "YESSS! Leave everything to me!"The next day, Lucid City glowed beneath the setting sun as Nessa dragged Riah through boutiques and dress shops,Hours later, she held up a soft yellow gown that shimmered like trapped sunlight. "This one," Nessa breathed. "This is yours."Riah's eyes widened. "Nessa, no. It's too much." "Riri," Nessa said, placing her hands on her shoulders, "you spend your days saving lives. Let someone make you feel alive for once." Reluctantly, Riah tried it on. The silk hugged her gently revealing her body curves, flowing like light over her caramel skin. The neckline framed her collarbones, when she stepped out, Nessa gasped. "You look like the morning itself," she said softly, Riah stared at her reflection the woman in the mirror looked unfamiliar, radiant, alive,"I look… different."riah said,
"No," Nessa said, smiling. "You finally look like you." That night, Riah stood at her window again. Lucid's skyline gleamed beyond the rain. Tomorrow would be the fundraiser a night of glitter, laughter, and strangers who had never known pain, she thought of Marcus's small smile, and of her mother's tired eyes, of Nessa's fierce love, she would go for them, she closed her eyes, her hand resting over her heart.
Somewhere in the city, beyond the reach of her light, a man stood on a high balcony, watching the same rain fall, his dark blue eyes traced the drops as they slid down the glass. The city lights painted silver reflections across his face, "Lucid feels… different tonight," Louis said quietly behind him. Lucian Fox didn't reply, he was staring toward the direction of the hospital, for the briefest moment, something unspoken passed through him a pulse, a pull, a whisper. As if somewhere, someone had called his name in a dream.