"he was her Everything —until fate wrote her story With blood and magic "
Pov Author
The hospital corridor was quiet, bathed in pale light from ceiling lights that hummed overhead. It was late evening — that hour when most of the city slowed down but inside *St. Claire's Oncology Center*, time never really stopped. There was a faint scent in the air of disinfectant and of rain through open windows at the far end of the hall.
**Dr. Anna Brown** walked alone in the silence, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. Her white coat swayed at her step, dark hair tied neatly back — though a few had escaped, brushing against her cheeks. There was something gracious about her, such calm as only came from years of holding together for everyone else.
Just as she had completed her examination of her young patient, her phone buzzed. She frowned slightly, pulled it out of her pocket, and her chest tightened when she saw the name: Alexander.
She replied quickly, "Alex?"
The voice that came through made her heart drop, weak, strained, and trembling.
"Anna… I don't feel well," he breathed, words uneven. "It's bad… I can't… breathe properly."
Panic crashed through her chest like a wave.
"Alex, listen to me," she said, trying to sound calm, though her voice was already shaking. "Don't move, okay? I'm coming. Just stay where you are. Please."
Her fingers trembled while she ended the call. For a moment, the steady hospital hum disappeared beneath the pounding in her ears.
Then she ran.
Her heels clicked against the floor as she ran down the hall, the world around her blurring: white walls, faint voices, the sterile smell of medicine fading behind her. She burst through the glass doors and into the parking lot, fumbling with her keys, her breathing uneven.
The rain had started, soft and cold against her face, but she didn't care. As she slid into the car, one thought screamed inside her:
She'd already lost one man she loved when she was six-her father. She couldn't lose another. Not Alexander. Not tonight.
The car sped through wet streets that glimmered under the city lights. The wipers moved too fast, too slow-nothing could clear the blur of rain and tears from her eyes.
Her father's face flickered in her mind - that soft smile, that hand in her hair - then the silence which had followed him forever.
By the time she reached their mansion, her chest was burning from the rush of fear. She barely remembered to shut the door before running inside.
The usually warm and bright grand hallway felt strange tonight: too dark, too still. "Alex?" she called out, voice trembling. There was no answer.
"Alexander!" she shouted again, louder this time.
Nothing — until a weak cough came from upstairs.
Her heart lurched.
She sprinted for the staircase, her heels clattering against the marble. Every step was a prayer, every heartbeat a plea. She pushed open the bedroom door, breathless, and froze.
The room wasn't dark at all.
It was glowing.
Candles flickered across tables and on the floor. **Rose petals** were strewn over everything — over the bed, carpet, and along the path leading to the center. A hint of vanilla and roses wafted through the air in a sweet, perfumy aroma.
And there, on the bed, sat a small cake.
White frosting. Neat chocolate writing.
**"Happy 1st Anniversary."
Anna just stood there, her heart still pounding - her confusion mixing with her disbelief, until it all melted into something gentler. Relief. Tears gathered in her eyes before she even realized it.
Then, suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist from behind.
"Surprise, baby," he whispered — soft, warm — smiling even before she saw him.
She turned halfway toward him, meeting his blue eyes, shining in the candlelight, his hair mussed, his grin boyish and so familiar.
She breathed for a moment. The fear that had just about drowned her a few moments earlier vanished, leaving behind a strange, shaky laughter.
She hit his chest lightly, half laughing, half crying. "You scared me, Alex!"
He caught her hands gently and drew her closer until she was pressed against him; his scent — that warm, clean smell she'd always known — surrounded her.
"I'm sorry," he murmured against her hair. "Didn't mean to scare you. Just wanted to surprise you."
Her fingers curled into his shirt, grasping a bit too firmly. "You almost gave me a heart attack," she muttered against his chest.
He merely chuckled softly. "Then the surprise worked."
She looked up at him, still teary but smiling now. "I forgot our anniversary today," she confessed softly, guilt slipping into her voice.
He shook his head, brushing a stray lock from her face. "Hey… you save lives every day, Anna. You're allowed to forget sometimes. I'm just lucky you still come home to me."
Her eyes softened. "You're too good to me."
He smiled that small, crooked smile she could never resist. "Come with me," he said, and took her hand.
The night greeted them —cool, fragrant, and breathtaking—when the doors to the balcony opened.
The space had been transformed. Candles flickered like tiny stars around a table set for two. A bottle of wine waited beside two crystal glasses. Dinner — her favorite — still warm, still perfect.
Anna stared, dumbfounded. "You did this all. for me?
"For us," he said simply.
They dined under the moonlight, laughter mingling with the sound of the rain easing off in the distance. For a while, everything was easy: soft smiles, teasing words, the world outside fading away.
Then, as the plates lay empty, Alexander rose and thrust a hand in his pocket. "One last thing," he said.
He opened a small velvet box. Inside lay a delicate silver necklace, a heart-shaped pendant catching the candlelight.
Anna's breath caught.
He stepped behind her, fastening it carefully around her neck, his fingers brushing her skin. "So you don't forget again," he whispered, smiling.
She laughed softly, turning to look at him. "It's beautiful," she said, her voice barely steady.
"I'm glad you like it," he said, eyes warm. "Because you're wearing it tomorrow night. At our anniversary party."
Her head tilted. "There's a party?
He chuckled. "Of course there is. Did you really think I'd stop at dinner?" Anna smiled, shaking her head. "You're impossible." "And you love me for it," he teased. She leaned in, resting her head against his shoulder, eyes closing. The necklace shimmered softly between them, and for a moment, everything was exactly as it should be: love, laughter, and the calm before the storm that neither of them would see coming.