#Chapter 38 - Return to Normal

Layla I pulled in a deep inhale, squared my shoulders, and stepped through the door into the hospital. As a doctor this time, not a patient. Back where I should be—but still, my heart raced as the familiar hum of the lobby washed over me. Could I really just return to my life as if nothing had happened—Marco’s betrayal, the kidnapping, the gunshot … And as I strode through the lobby, I realized I’d have a new challenge to add to the list. The eyes of every single nurse, doctor, and intern in the place followed me. Crap. They knew. Of course they knew; I’d been a patient at this hospital, and stories like mine didn’t stay quiet. I could only imagine the things they’d say in my wake. One of the nurses eyeballed me as I neared the break room. I could practically see her lining up a string of questions, so I waved, and opted not to enter the room. I could get coffee later. The last thing I wanted was to start my first day back talking about the incident that had taken me out of wo