Chapter 14: Back to Normal

The fluorescent lights of the hospital seemed to hum in sync with Pam's calm demeanor as she worked at the nurse's station, her exhaustion from the previous day's drama now replaced by a renewed sense of energy and focus. Doug, the head nurse, walked over to her, a concerned look on his face. "Hey, Pam, how are you doing?" he asked, his voice gentle. Pam smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "I'm doing great, Doug. Thanks for asking." Doug nodded, his eyes still scrutinizing her expression. "So, what happened with John yesterday? You seemed pretty upset when you left." Pam took a deep breath, recalling the events of the previous day. "John came over to my place and explained what happened. He told me that Emily was just being friendly and that he made it clear to her that he loves me, not her." Doug's expression changed, a look of defeat washing over his face. "Okay," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Pam felt a pang of sympathy for her colleague. She knew that Doug had harbored feelings for her, and it was clear that he had been holding onto hope that she and John would not work out. She reached out, putting a hand on his arm. "Thanks for checking in on me, Doug," she said, trying to sound reassuring. "I appreciate it." Doug nodded, forcing a smile onto his face. "No problem, Pam. I'm just glad everything worked out for you and John." The conversation was interrupted by a call from one of the doctors, and Doug excused himself to attend to the matter. Pam watched him go, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her colleague. She was glad that they could still be friends, even if romantic feelings weren't involved. As the day went on, Pam found herself settling back into her routine, her mind no longer preoccupied with doubts and fears about her relationship with John. She was grateful for the clarification and for John's willingness to be open and honest with her. At lunchtime, Pam texted John, letting him know that she was thinking about him. He responded almost immediately, telling her that he couldn't wait to see her after work. Pam smiled, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation for the evening ahead. The rest of the day flew by, and before she knew it, Pam was clocking out and heading home. She couldn't wait to see John and spend the evening with him, enjoying the peaceful calm that came with knowing their love was strong and true.