Chapter 56

• The morning felt like any other, but something lingered in the air—a heaviness I couldn’t shake. I’d already been through my rounds, checking on Joseph’s progress. The good news was that his condition had stabilized, and he could be moved to a regular ward now. I knew it was a small victory, but in my world, small victories often felt like the only ones worth celebrating.
• As I made my way down the hallway, a familiar voice sliced through the silence. “Genius, have you made up your mind? Do you want to be my PhD student?” Anthony’s tone was playful, but I knew better than to let my guard down.
• I jumped, startled, my hand instinctively gripping the edge of the nearest counter. “Anthony, could you stop popping up like that?” I hissed, trying to steady my breathing. He always seemed to appear out of nowhere, like a shadow that lingered just out of sight.