**Diary Entry 23rd October**
The hospital corridors smelled of antiseptic and stale air, the fluorescent lights humming overhead. Id always hated these placesever since Mum passed away in one, years ago. But when Margaret from the corner shop mentioned Victor was in here after a heart attack, I couldnt stay away.
I found him by the window, pale under the thin blanket, a wilting bouquet of carnations on the nightstand. His eyes flickered open when I spoke.
Emma? Howd you know I was here?
Ran into Susan at Tesco. She told me. I set down the bag of grocerieshomemade soup, biscuits, a thermos of tea. He looked gaunt, not the sturdy bloke I remembered from years back.
Just a mild heart attack, he muttered when I asked. Doctors reckon stress didnt help.
I didnt mention his ex-wife, Linda, though it gnawed at mewhy wasnt she here? But then he said it himself: We divorced three months ago. Shes with someone else now.
The words hung between us. Theyd been married eight years. I remembered their weddinghow happy hed looked. Now here he was, alone, recovering in a hospital bed while shed moved on.
She said she fell out of love, he added, staring at the ceiling. Found what real love feels like, apparently.
I poured him tea, hands steady despite the ache in my chest. Wed been engaged once, decades ago. Id left him for Richardcharismatic, flashy, full of promises. A mistake Id regretted the moment Richard walked out on me and our daughter, Lily.
Victor, Im sorry, I blurted. For how things ended with us.
He waved it off. Ancient history, Em. We were kids.
Maybe. But sitting there, watching him sip tea from the thermos Id brought, it didnt feel that way.
The nurse bustled in, eyeing me. Family?
Yes, Victor said before I could stammer.
Later, just as I was leaving, Linda swept intall, blonde, reeking of expensive perfume. She froze when she saw me.
Whos this? she demanded.
Victor sighed. An old friend.
Lindas lips curled. Oh, the one who dumped you?
The air turned sharp. I held my ground. I came because hes ill. Whereve *you* been?
She flinched. Victor pressed a hand to his temple, pain flashing across his face. The nurse shooed us both out, scolding us for upsetting him.
In the car park, Linda cornered me. You think Im heartless, dont you?
I didnt answer.
I just wanted to be happy, she said, voice cracking. But seeing you thereI hated it.
I studied her thenthe smudged mascara, the trembling hands. Maybe she wasnt the villain Id painted her as. Just another flawed person, like me. Like Victor.
Driving home, I replayed her parting jab: *Who are you to decide anything?*
Fair question. Who *was* I? The woman whod broken his heart once. The one whod chosen wrong and paid for it. Yet here I was, unable to walk away when he needed someone.
Perhaps time doesnt heal wounds so much as it circles us back to them, offering a chance to do better. Or perhaps Im just a fool, hoping second chances exist.
Either way, Ill visit again tomorrow. With proper shepherds pie this timenone of that hospital slop.
