(3rd Person P.O.V)
A whole week passed in a relentless blur of papers, meetings, and hurried conversations. Nate found himself drowning in the demanding tides of his office, struggling to keep his head above water. The annual meeting of his company had been an exhausting affair, filled with discussions that seemed to stretch on forever. As the final session came to a close, Nate couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief. He rose from his seat at the conference table, feeling the weight of the past week settle on his shoulders.
Rubbing his temples, he made his way through the bustling corridors, his footsteps echoing in the cavernous hallway. His cabin was a welcome sight, a sanctuary from the chaos outside. He stepped inside, feeling a wave of calm wash over him as he closed the door behind him.
Just as he began to exhale the tension that had built up within him, his phone erupted into a shrill ring. Nate's heart skipped a beat as he reached for the device, his eyes widening as he saw the caller ID. Dr. Matthew.
With a quick swipe of his thumb, he answered the call. "Yes, doctor," Nate greeted his voice a mixture of hope and apprehension. He could feel his heart racing, the anticipation of the results of his Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy test almost palpable.
"Nate, your results are here," Dr. Matthew's voice came through the phone, steady and reassuring. "I would like to know when you're coming to discuss your treatment plans."
Nate swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. "Is tomorrow alright?" he managed to ask, his voice cracking ever so slightly.
"Yes, it's good for me. What time do you want to book the appointment?" Dr. Matthew inquired.
Nate's mind raced as he quickly scanned his schedule. "At 11:00," he responded, his voice gaining a hint of determination.
"11:00 it is, then. I'll see you tomorrow," Dr. Matthew confirmed, his voice carrying a sense of finality before he ended the call.
"What happened, dude?" Elliot's voice cut through Nate's reverie as he turned to see his friend standing there, concern etched across his face. Nate blinked, momentarily taken aback by the interruption, before offering a faint smile.
"I've received a call from Dr. Matthew," Nate replied, his voice carrying a mix of tension and anticipation. "He said my results are out and scheduled an appointment with me to discuss them and start planning for my treatment."
Elliot's eyebrows furrowed, his expression shifting to one of genuine worry. "Hey, I'm sure everything is going to be alright," he reassured, his hand coming to rest on Nate's back in a comforting gesture.
Nate appreciated the support, the weight of his friend's hand a grounding presence. He cleared his throat, his voice more resolute now. "I hope so," he replied, a small but genuine smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"So when is the appointment?" Elliot's concern was palpable in his voice as they continued walking down the corridor.
"Tomorrow," Nate replied, his gaze fixed ahead as he navigated through the bustling office.
Elliot's next question hit home. "Did you inform Arabella about it?"
Nate's steps faltered slightly, and he let out a sigh. "No, I was thinking to talk with her about it at home," he admitted, a mixture of uncertainty and hesitation in his tone.
Elliot stopped, placing a hand on Nate's shoulder to halt his progress. "Nate, listen," he said earnestly. "You should head home, right now. You were already done with the office work anyways."
Nate's eyes met Elliot's, a blend of gratitude and uncertainty in his gaze. "I guess you're right," he conceded, realizing that his friend had a point.
Elliot offered a supportive smile. "You've got this. And Arabella deserves to hear about this from you, not as an afterthought."
Nate nodded, a sense of determination settling within him. He opened his mouth to express his appreciation, but Elliot beat him to it.
"I know, I know what you want to say," Elliot said with a knowing grin. "I'll handle the business behind your back. Just focus on your recovery, and keep me updated on your treatment."
Nate couldn't help but smile, a mix of emotions swelling in his chest. He clapped a hand on Elliot's shoulder, gratitude and friendship passing between them in that simple gesture.
"Thanks, Elliot. You've been a true friend through all of this," Nate said, his voice sincere.
Elliot's grin widened. "Hey, that's what friends are for, right?"
After packing his bag and bidding his colleagues farewell, Nate left the office and made his way home. The drive felt different today, a mix of anticipation and a newfound sense of self-care propelling him forward.
Upon arriving home, he kicked off his shoes and hung his coat, a small smile playing on his lips. He walked through the familiar halls, his steps lighter than they had been in days. In the doorway of their shared bedroom, he found Arabella, engrossed in a book.
Seeing Nate walk in, Arabella looked up, her eyes lighting up at the sight of him. "Hey there," she greeted, bookmarking her page and setting the book aside.
"Hey," Nate replied, a sense of relief washing over him as he met her gaze. "I decided to call it a day and head home early."
Arabella's smile widened, a mixture of pride and affection in her eyes. "I'm glad you're taking care of yourself, Nate," she said, crossing the room to wrap her arms around him in a warm embrace.
Nate returned the hug, his heart swelling with gratitude for her unwavering support. "Yeah, I figured it's time to slow down a bit."
During lunch, Nate mustered the courage to share the news he had received earlier. "Bella, I got a call from the doctor today," he began, his voice gentle yet serious.
Arabella's expression shifted to one of concern. "What did they say?"
"They said my results are out, and we have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow to discuss them and plan for treatment," Nate explained, his gaze locked with hers.
Arabella reached out and took his hand in hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Well, at least you'll be going into it well-rested," she said with a soft smile. "It's good that you came home early today."
Nate nodded, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. "Yeah, I thought the same thing."
After lunch, they settled into bed, the weight of the impending appointment hanging over them. Nate's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, but having Arabella by his side brought him a sense of calm. As they lay there, he felt her fingers trace soothing patterns on his arm, a silent reassurance of her presence.
After a while, Arabella's voice broke the quiet. "Hey, how about we try to take our minds off things for a bit?" she suggested. "Let's watch a movie or something, just to chill out and distract ourselves."
Nate turned to her, gratitude shining in his eyes. "I'd like that," he replied, a small smile forming. Together, they chose a movie, snuggled under the covers, and let the story on the screen carry them away from their worries, if only for a little while.
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