The moment my eyes landed on the delicate gold bracelet wrapped around Stephanie’s wrist, my breath caught in my throat. My heart pounded, and my stomach twisted into knots. I knew that bracelet. I had spent weeks searching for it, convinced it was lost forever. But now, it was on the wrist of the nurse taking care of me.
How was this possible?
Life had been good before I ended up in the hospital. I had been married to Toby for three years, and we had a comfortable, happy life together. I worked as a consultant at a clothing store, and Toby had a stable job in finance. We weren’t rich, but we had enough.
Most nights, Toby came home exhausted from work. He barely had the energy to ask about my day, but I never complained. I knew he was working hard for us.
One evening, as we sat together on the couch, I held his hand gently. “I can’t wait until we have our own place.”
“Yeah,” he sighed, rubbing his face. “I just need a little more time to save up. Houses are ridiculously expensive 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, raising an eyebrow.
“For a baby,” I corrected with a grin.
His expression softened, and he kissed my forehead. “We’ll get there.”
And I had believed him.
When he left for a work trip that Friday, I didn’t think much of it. His job required travel, and I was used to it. I figured I would use the weekend to deep clean the apartment.
Little did I know that decision would change everything.
I was dusting the top shelf of the hallway closet when the ladder wobbled beneath me. My heart lurched. For a split second, I was weightless.
Then I crashed down.
A sharp, searing pain shot through my right leg, so intense that I gasped. My vision blurred. My breaths came out in shaky, pained gasps as I struggled to move.
Gritting my teeth, I reached for my phone, barely managing to swipe the screen. My trembling fingers dialed 911.
Minutes later, 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, an X-ray confirmed what I feared—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 you can go home.”
The moment he left, I grabbed my phone and called Toby.
He answered immediately. “Kate? Hey! How’s my beautiful wife doing?”
“Toby,” I whispered. “I… I broke my leg.”
“What?” His tone changed instantly, shifting from playful to panicked. “How? What happened?”
I exhaled shakily. “I fell off a ladder while cleaning.”
“Jesus, Kate.” I heard rustling on his 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, and a nurse walked in.
I quickly told Toby I’d call him later and hung up.
“You must be Kate,” the nurse said with a warm smile. “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 worry about a thing,” Stephanie assured me. “We’re going to take great care of you.”
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.
Stephanie was wonderful at first. She made sure I was comfortable, 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 refused 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.”
We started talking about our lives. One evening, as she fluffed my pillows, she asked, “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. He’s been spoiling me lately.”
The next day, when Stephanie walked into my room, something caught my eye—a bracelet.
Not just any bracelet. A delicate gold chain with a small heart charm.
The same bracelet my grandmother had given me. The same one I had lost a month ago.
At first, I thought it was a coincidence. But then, as she rested her arm on the table while adjusting my IV, I saw the tiny engraving on the back of the charm—a little smiley face.
My grandmother had requested that smiley just for me.
A chill ran down my spine.
“That’s a beautiful bracelet,” I said carefully. “Where did you get it?”
Stephanie glanced down and smiled. “My boyfriend gave it to me.”
A cold, sinking feeling settled in my stomach.
“When did he give it to you?” I asked, my voice tight.
“A month ago.”
My fingers gripped the hospital blanket. Memories flooded back—
Me, getting ready for a party. Reaching for my jewelry box. Realizing my bracelet was missing.
“Toby, have you seen my bracelet?” I had asked, rummaging through the drawers.
“You probably left it somewhere,” he had said quickly.
“But it’s always in my jewelry box.”
“Kate, we’re getting late,” he had sighed, glancing at his watch. “Just wear something else.”
His reaction had felt off at the time, but I let it go.
Now, staring at the bracelet on Stephanie’s wrist, the pieces clicked into place.
Toby had taken it.
And he had given it to her.
My heart pounded as I reached for my phone. I quickly scrolled through my photos until I found one of Toby and me from our anniversary dinner.
I turned the screen toward Stephanie. “Is this your boyfriend?”
Her smile faded instantly.
Her eyes darted between the photo and me. “How do you know him?” she asked, confused.
I swallowed hard. “Because that’s my husband.”
