Page 32 of Obeying

"You know what I can do," he says, a calmness in his voice. "My father has a lot of influence in hospitals. One call, just one conversation, and your little second chance disappears. No hearing, no paperwork. Just a residency that somehow doesn't get renewed."

"Are you threatening me?"

He smiles like he's won. "I'm reminding you of how things work. I built the bridge you're standing on, Kris. I can take it apart just as easily."

I don't move. I just stand there at the bus stop with my bag over my shoulder and my hands shaking.

I look at the man I gave three years of my life to. "I'm not coming back. Ever."

The smile drops, and something cold and flat settles behind his eyes. This is a man who's done pretending.

"Well then. Prepare for hell, Kristen."

He gets in the car, slams the door shut, and the sedan pulls away from the curb and disappears down the street. I stand there alone under the streetlight with my heart pounding.

I know, with a certainty that makes me sick, that everything is about to get worse. Miguel doesn't make empty threats. He plans, he executes, and he wins. He's been winning his whole life.

But I also know something else, something small and stubborn that has no business surviving everything it's been through: I'm done running.

I'm done being small. I'm getting my life back.

And I'm not going back. No matter what he does, no matter what it costs, I'm never going back.

11

KRISTEN

Before I head to the hospital, I stop at the café across the street. I order my usual coffee, and then I order a second one. Iced, oat milk, two pumps of vanilla. I get a bagel sandwich as well, toasted, cream cheese, everything seasoning. Priya's usual. I've heard her recite it enough times to have it memorized.

She's in the lounge when I find her. I set the coffee and the bag in front of her, and she looks at them, then at me, and back at them.

"What's this for?"

"Just wanted to show how much I appreciate you."

She stares at them for longer, then at me, and her eyes go wide. "Oh my God. You got me my order? Kristen." She presses a hand to her chest. "I'm going to cry. This is the best day of my entire life."

"It's just coffee and a sandwich, Priya."

"It's not just coffee and a sandwich. It's love. It's friendship. It's everything." She takes a sip and groans. "You remembered the oat milk. You're my favorite person in this hospital. Don't tell Dr. Vance."

I smile at her. "Your secret's safe."

She takes a bite of her sandwich and looks at me. Her expression softens. "You okay? I know it hasn't been easy with what happened."

"I think I am. Or I'm trying to be."

She nods like that's enough and doesn't push. "Good. Don't let one jerk get to you. The next time he barges in here, I'm throwing my chart at him like a boomerang." She takes another bite and I chuckle at the thought.

She points the sandwich at me. "Seriously, though. You look better now."

"I feel better."

After our morning rounds with Dr. Hills, I head to the next person I owe an explanation to.

He's sitting up in bed looking irritated, which is his default, but when I walk in, his face changes. He looks at me the way my dad used to look at me when I came home with a scraped knee. Like he wanted to be angry at whoever caused it, but was mostly just relieved I was standing.

"Doc," he says. "You're back."