His eyes widened slightly.
“Emily.”
Just hearing my name in his voice triggered a flood of emotions I thought I’d already processed.
Apparently I was wrong.
“Hi,” I managed.
He looked surprised.
Maybe even nervous.
“You okay?”
I almost laughed.
How do you answer that question when you’re standing face-to-face with your ex-husband in the place where so much of your shared history unfolded?
“Depends on the day.”
A small smile appeared on his face.
“Fair answer.”
For a moment, we stood there awkwardly.
Not enemies.
Not friends.
Just two people connected by a history neither could erase.
Eventually, the nurse cleared her throat.
“We should get started.”
I nodded.
Mark stepped aside.
“Good luck with your appointment.”
“Thanks.”
As I walked away, I resisted the urge to look back.
The encounter lasted less than a minute.
Yet it lingered in my thoughts for the rest of the day.
After the tests were completed, I found myself sitting alone in the clinic cafeteria.
