There was a small smiley face beside her name.
I laughed once, unexpectedly, and then covered my face with my hands.
I could see the intention behind her gift.
She had not been trying to buy my affection. She had not been asking me to continue pretending that our marriage was romantic.
She had simply wanted to give something.
But the letter did not answer the question that mattered most to the hospital.
Why had I agreed to marry my patient?
Alicia’s kindness could explain her decision.
It could not make mine professionally sound.
And if I used her final words to defend myself, I would be turning a private expression of trust into a weapon against the people who questioned me.
I folded the letter carefully and placed it back in the box.
I would not publish it.
I would not send it to Nora to force her to change her mind.
