The dim fluorescent light above flickered faintly before settling into a dim, steady glow. It was late evening in the shared post-op hospital room. The kind of quiet that settled in wasn't peaceful—just tired. Emily sat upright in her bed, Her left leg extended in a soft brace, slightly elevated on a pillow, the fabric straps snug around the swelling. Lucas sat in the chair by her bed, scrolling through something on his phone. The glow lit his face more than the room’s light did.

He finally spoke, eyes still on the screen.

Lucas: “You know your insurance didn’t cover the full scan, right?”

Emily blinked slowly, then shifted her gaze toward the far wall.

Emily: “I didn’t ask for a scan. The doctor ordered it.”

There was a pause—thin, long. Lucas’s thumb paused mid-scroll, then resumed.

Lucas: “Things add up fast. Just saying—it helps to be mindful.”

She didn’t answer. The beep of the IV filled the silence instead. Her hand rested gently over the blanket, fingers twitching now and then, like she wanted to pick at something.

Lucas stayed focused on his phone, the soft glow reflecting off his glasses. The silence lingered, neither tense nor comfortable—just there, like furniture. Emily exhaled through her nose, barely a sound, then spoke quietly.

Emily: “You don’t have to stay long. I know you’ve got work tomorrow.”

Lucas didn’t look up.

Lucas: “I moved a meeting already. Hard to justify that if this drags on... I just don’t want to fall behind.”

Emily gave a small nod, though it wasn’t clear if she agreed or just wanted the moment to pass. A low murmur of voices drifted in from the hallway—nurses changing shifts, the squeak of shoes on vinyl. The curtain at the edge of her bed stirred slightly as someone passed by, then settled again.

Lucas set his phone on his lap and finally glanced up.

Lucas: “You made any hospital friends yet? Never know who ends up in the next bed.”

Emily didn’t answer right away. Her eyes drifted toward the half-drawn curtain beside her—hinted at quiet company on the other side.

Emily: “Just some small talk. It’s nice, having someone nearby who doesn’t feel... tense.”

Lucas followed her gaze but didn’t comment. He leaned back in the chair, crossing one leg over the other.

Lucas: “Well, hospital bonding’s overrated. People say weird things when they’re stuck in gowns and hooked to machines.”

He gave a short laugh, more to himself than to her, then picked up his phone again. The light bounced off his watch as he scrolled. Emily hesitated a moment, then glanced toward the curtain again.

Emily: “Hey... sorry, were we being loud?”