Chapter 2

• Near the mountains, the other part of town housed a home filled with the morning giggles of a beautiful family.
• "Mom, I'm done," the girl declared, crossing her hands over her breakfast plate.
• "Hazel, look at you. You're a doctor. You need more strength," her mom scolded, glaring at her with a hint of anger.
• "Dad," Hazel hoped for her father's support in this challenging situation.
• He shook his head, aligning himself with her mom's perspective.
• "Mom, give it to me. I'll eat," an annoying voice interrupted their silent conversation. Hazel winked at her younger brother, Eason, and passed her remaining breakfast to the growing teenage boy.
• "Thank you, sis," Eason acknowledged, and Hazel dashed outside.
• "At least have a banana," her mom's voice echoed through the house.
• "I will, in the cafeteria," Hazel replied in a hurry. She waved her hand as she hopped into her old Honda Accord. Hazel Colton, a new intern at a reputable city hospital, recently joined after her family moved to this small town two years ago, oblivious to its history. Despite having the option to work in a renowned urban hospital, she chose to be with her family and contribute to the local community. Hazel is a bubbly girl with a belief in spreading love to every corner of the world.
• "Oh, my God," Hazel exclaimed when she spotted a pup lying unconscious on the side of the road.
• "Poor baby," she murmured, finding herself immediately picking up the tiny creature, gently patting it, but sensing no signs of life.
• "Daddy," her voice filled with urgency, not allowing him a moment's rest until he agreed to take the pup to the vet. With each passing moment, her concern for the little one grew.
• "Thank you, doctor," a bright smile spread across her face as the pup stirred slightly in the vet's hands. With lots of love, she handed the pup over to her dad to take care of.
• "I'll see you in the evening, little one," she said happily, starting her day by saving a life, which would undoubtedly make her day brighter.
• Arriving at the hospital, she met her friend Jack.
• "Hey there," his eyes were glued to his phone, and beads of sweat glistened on his forehead. They had been good friends since college, and although Hazel was new to the town, it was Jack's hometown.
• He quickly pocketed his phone and summoned a smile. "Hey," he seemed stressed about the news he had just read in a text message.
• "What happened? Is everything okay?"
• "Nothing, it's about some news of a reporter," he replied cryptically.
• "What about him?"
• "Nothing," he dismissed her inquiry. They started their day, and Hazel shared the story of how she had saved a pup. The hospital hallway adorned with magnolia walls that complemented the shimmering morning light, creating a beautiful start to the day. Soft music played in the background, providing just the right emotional lift for both patients and staff. However, the true marvel lay in the ceiling, transparent and high-arched, showcasing the innovative architectural design that had been invested in for this small town. The owner had truly gone above and beyond to provide for the people of this community.
• Jack and Hazel had been friends since their university days. After completing her degree, Hazel had planned to explore urban options in Charlotte. However, her father's decision to move to this small town to help others had changed her course. Her father was her idol, always putting himself out there to assist those in need. While part of her wanted to stay in the city, she remembered her father's words about using her skills to help the less fortunate.
• "How are you finding this place?" Jack asked as he punched his attendance card.
• "To be honest, I find it boring. There's nothing much to do here," Hazel replied. It had been a week since she arrived in town, and she had yet to make many friends. Fortunately, she had Jack at the hospital, someone she knew she could rely on.
• "Give it some time. You'll grow to love it," Jack assured her. They made their way toward the assigned room, checking the patient charts they needed to attend to.
• "Yeah, maybe you're right. But my mom, dad, and Eason are visiting my uncle in Texas, and I have to stay here alone for two weeks. It really sucks," Hazel lamented. She would have enjoyed her time alone with friends if she were still in the city. However, this new town felt even more empty at night, with no nightlife to speak of and a lack of friends aside from Jack.
• "That's a bummer," Jack teased, causing Hazel to roll her eyes with a slight frown.
• "Why don't you explore? Go on trails, hiking," Hazel bit her lip, contemplating the idea. Going alone wasn't her preference. It's not that she was scared, but she always enjoyed having company for outdoor activities.
• "Alone? You know..." Jack turned to place the chart back on the shelf.
• "You know I'm not interested in all these physical workouts. Instead, I'd rather lie on the couch with a big pizza on my lap and play Xbox with Eason." How could she forget? She was talking to a grown-up child at heart who still preferred games over dating a beautiful woman.
• She blew out her cheeks and rolled her eyes.
• "Sometimes I wonder why they gave you a doctoral degree," Jack chuckled. This ongoing conversation always seemed to end with him wanting her to play while she wanted him to explore the outside world.
• "Forget about me; Eason told me your dad wants you to get married. He even gave you the green light to find a man for yourself." She frowned and shook her head.
• "Even if he did, what's the use? Am I ever going to find a handsome man in this town? Just look around. It feels like I'm stuck in the downtown of the '80s."
• He chuckled.
• "You will, Hazelnut." They reached the hallway door only to be met with an unexpected commotion. Nurses hurriedly moved in one direction, their sense of urgency evident. Hazel's forehead creased with concern until she spotted a stretcher being wheeled into the hallway and taken towards the Intensive Care Unit.
• "What's happening?" Hazel murmured, but Jack had already made his way to find out the urgency. The patients were left unattended, and the entire medical team had gathered around the stretcher, indicating the presence of someone important. Hazel pushed through the crowd, her curiosity driving her, until she saw the head nurse signal for Jack to join the team. He turned and bumped into her.
• "Who is it? What's going on?" As a doctor, she had the right to know what was happening, but the atmosphere felt more intense than it appeared. The nurses were trembling, even the senior staff members were out of their offices.
• "Hazel," her eyes remained fixed on the crowd as Jack shook her, urging her to step back.
• "Hazel, listen to me."
• "You need to go back to the staff room," her furrowed brows struggled to comprehend the instruction. Why was he acting as if something terrible was about to happen?
• "What? But why? Who is it?"