14. Boxing?

As I signed the last discharge papers, a heavy weight seemed to lift off my shoulders. Turning towards the door, there she was.

Penelope, standing just outside, her gaze anchored to the floor. The sight of her sent a wave of relief through me, so intense it was almost physical, like a punch to the gut.

Shakily, I stood up, feeling the soreness of my muscles protest, but I pushed through it. My steps towards her were hesitant yet determined. As the distance closed between us, she looked up, a clear storm in her eyes.

Reaching her, I felt a surge of something that felt like hope. As I reached out, she put her hands up my chest, signaling me to stop. Her touch was electrifying, even in rejection, evoking mixed emotions.

"No," she whispered, not meeting my eyes.

I let out a sigh, heavy with a cocktail of emotions. "Okay, I get it," I murmured. "Let's go home?"

We silently walked down to the waiting car, the air thick with unspoken words and tension. I couldn't help but feel elated a