Chapter 73

• Nicole and Jack sat in the hospital cafeteria, sipping their coffee and enjoying a brief moment of respite from the stress of the hospital. Nicole's eyes gazed out the window, her mind a thousand miles away. She was lost in thought, her expression a mixture of sadness and longing.
• Jack noticed the far-off look in her eyes and reached out, gently placing a hand on her arm. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft and concerned.
• Nicole's gaze snapped back to the present, and she forced a smile onto her face. "I'm fine, Jack," she lied, trying to brush off her emotions. "I was just thinking about my mom, that's all."