The moment my eyes landed on the delicate gold bracelet wrapped around Stephanie’s wrist, my breath caught in my throat. I knew that bracelet. I had spent weeks searching for it and was convinced it was lost forever. But now, it was on the wrist of the nurse taking care of me.

Life had been good before I ended up in the hospital.

I’d been married to Toby for three years, and we were living a happy life.

I worked as a consultant in a clothing store, and he had a stable job in finance. It’s not like we were rolling in money. We had enough to live comfortably.

Most nights, Toby came home exhausted. He didn’t even have time to ask me how my day went. But honestly, I never complained.

I knew he was working hard for us.

One evening, as we sat on the couch, I held his hand gently.

“I can’t wait until we have our own place,” I murmured.

“Yeah,” he sighed. “I just need a little more time to save up. You know how expensive houses are right now.”

“I know.” I smiled. “But when we finally get it, I want a big kitchen. And a backyard.”

“For a dog?” he teased.

“For a baby,” I corrected with a grin.

His expression softened, and he kissed my forehead. “We’ll get there.”

I believed him.

When he left for a work trip that Friday, I didn’t think much of it. His job required travel, and I had grown used to it.

I figured I’d use the weekend to deep clean the apartment.

Little did I know it was not the right decision.

I was dusting the top shelf of the hallway closet when the ladder wobbled beneath me.

For a split second, I was weightless. And then I was falling.

The impact was instant. A sharp, searing pain shot through my right leg, unlike anything I’d ever felt before. I gasped and my vision started blurring as I struggled to move.

Gritting my teeth, I reached for my phone, barely managing to swipe the screen. My fingers trembled as I dialed 911.

Minutes later, the paramedics arrived. The pain was unbearable as they lifted me onto the stretcher. I could barely keep my eyes open as they wheeled me into the ambulance.

At the hospital, the X-ray confirmed what I already suspected. I had broken my leg.

“You’ll need to stay here for a few days,” the doctor informed me after wrapping my leg in a cast. “We need to monitor the swelling before we can send you home.”

The moment he left the room, I grabbed my phone and called Toby.

He picked up immediately. “Kate? Hey! How’s my beautiful wife doing?”

“Toby,” I whispered. “I… I broke my leg.”

“What?” His tone shifted from playful to panicked. “How? What happened?”

I exhaled shakily. “I fell off a ladder while cleaning.”

“Jesus, Kate.” I heard rustling on the other end like he was moving around. “I’m coming home. I’ll cut my trip short.”

“No, you don’t have to—”

“Don’t even argue. I should be there with you.”

Tears pricked my eyes. “Okay.”

I was still on the phone with him when the door opened. A nurse walked in.

I quickly told Toby I’d call him later and hung up.

“You must be Kate,” the nurse said. “I’m Stephanie. I’ll be looking after you while you’re here.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said, forcing a smile through my discomfort.

“Don’t you worry about a thing,” Stephanie assured me. “We’re going to take great care of you.”

I let out a breath, nodding. She seemed kind.

I had no idea that in just a few days, this woman would shatter everything I thought I knew about my life.

At first, Stephanie was wonderful.

From the moment she started looking after me, she made sure I was comfortable. She checked on me regularly, adjusted my pillows when I couldn’t move properly, and even brought me an extra blanket when I mentioned feeling chilly.

“You must be tired of hospital food already,” she joked one afternoon as she handed me a tray. “I wouldn’t blame you if you refuse to eat this.”

I laughed. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but yeah… this is not exactly gourmet dining.”

She grinned. “Don’t worry. I’ll sneak you something better if I can.”

Over time, we started talking about our lives.

“So,” she asked one evening as she fluffed my pillows, “do you have kids?”

“Not yet,” I admitted. “My husband and I want to buy a house first, then start thinking about kids.”

She nodded. “That’s smart. Kids are expensive.”

I smiled. “What about you? Are you married?”

She shook her head. “No, but there’s someone in my life. We’re dating. Nothing serious yet.”

“Do you think he’s the one?” I teased.

“Maybe,” she shrugged. “He’s great. You know, the kind types. He’s been spoiling me lately.”

“That’s sweet,” I said. “It’s nice when someone makes you feel special.”

The next day, when Stephanie walked into my room, something caught my eye.

A bracelet.

It was not just any bracelet. It was a delicate gold chain with a small heart charm, and it looked just like the one my grandmother had given me.

The same bracelet that I had lost a month ago.

At first, I thought it was a coincidence. But then, as Stephanie rested her arm on the side table while adjusting my IV, I saw it up close.

The tiny engraving on the back of the heart charm had a little smiley face.

My grandmother had requested the jeweler for that smiley. She told me it was especially for me.

Suddenly, I felt lightheaded.

How is this even possible? I thought.

I had looked for it everywhere, and I was convinced I had misplaced it. But now, it was there. On my nurse’s wrist.

“That’s a beautiful bracelet,” I said, forcing a smile. “Where did you get it?”

Stephanie glanced down, then smiled. “My boyfriend gave it to me.”

A chill ran down my spine.

“That’s sweet,” I said. “When did he give it to you?”

“A month ago.”

My fingers gripped the hospital blanket.

Suddenly, memories flooded back.

I had been getting ready for a party. I had done my makeup and reached for my jewelry box when I realized my bracelet was missing.