The next morning, sunlight streamed through the thin curtains in Elena's small apartment, gently waking her from a restless sleep. She stretched, feeling the ache in her limbs from the previous day's events. As she got ready for work, she decided to check her phone—a habit she rarely indulged in first thing in the morning. To her surprise, it was buzzing with notifications.
Elena's eyes widened as she scrolled through dozens of messages and social media posts. Her face was plastered across the internet, hailed as a hero for saving the two men from the car accident. Comments poured in, praising her bravery and selflessness. For the first time in a long while, a small, genuine smile broke across her face. The weight of missing the modeling competition lifted slightly, replaced by a quiet pride in what she had done.
Feeling lighter, she dressed in her work uniform, tied her long brown hair into a neat ponytail, and headed to the café. The moment she stepped in, her coworkers erupted into cheers and applause.
"There she is—our local hero!" her friend and coworker, Mia, teased, clapping exaggeratedly. "Come on, Elena, give us all the juicy details!"
Elena laughed, shaking her head. "It's not that big of a deal, really. I just did what anyone else would have done."
"Anyone else?" Mia scoffed. "Girl, the rest of us were watching from our phones while you were out there saving lives!"
The others nodded in agreement, their teasing laced with genuine admiration. Elena blushed under their praise and gently shooed them back to work.
A short while later, the café's owner, Mr. Gordon, walked in with a wide smile. He was an older man with a kind demeanor who treated his employees like family. He approached Elena with a small envelope in hand.
"Elena," he said warmly, "I saw the news. You made us all proud. This is just a little something to say thank you for representing us so well."
Elena hesitated before accepting the envelope, her cheeks flushing. Inside was a bonus—more money than she had expected. "Thank you, Mr. Gordon," she said softly. "It means a lot."
"You deserve it," he replied, patting her shoulder. "Now, get back to work before Mia starts a rebellion!"
The rest of her shift passed quickly, and Elena couldn't shake the feeling of warmth from the support she had received. As the café closed for the day, she made a decision. She would check on the two men she had saved.
Later that evening, Elena found herself standing outside the hospital, clutching her bag nervously. After gathering her courage, she asked the receptionist about the two accident victims. She was directed to the room of one of the men, who had been in the back seat of the car.
Peeking through the small window on the door, she saw him—Nathan—resting on the hospital bed, his face peaceful as he slept. His chiseled features were softened by the faint glow of the bedside lamp. Elena didn't want to disturb him, so she stood there, watching quietly.
Inside the room, Nathan was dreaming. In his dream, he saw the woman who had saved him. She was dressed in white, glowing like an angel, running around him with a gentle laugh. The sight filled him with an overwhelming sense of peace and gratitude. Then, suddenly, the woman vanished. In the dream, he reached out and called a name—"Katrina!"—but there was no response. The emptiness left behind made him call out again, this time louder.
In reality, Nathan jolted awake, shouting, "Katrina!"
Startled, Elena opened the door and called for a doctor. Medical staff rushed in, checking Nathan's vitals as Elena hovered near the doorway, concern etched on her face. Once the doctors confirmed that he was stable, they stepped out, leaving Elena alone with Nathan.
When Nathan's eyes landed on her, they widened in recognition. For a moment, he simply stared, as though trying to piece together a puzzle.
"You," he said finally, his voice hoarse. "You're the one who saved me."
Elena nodded, stepping closer. "How are you feeling?"
"Better now," he replied, his gaze fixed on her. "I can't thank you enough for what you did."
Before Elena could respond, the door opened, and a young man in a sharp suit walked in. Thomas, Nathan's secretary, froze when he saw Elena. His usually composed demeanor faltered, and he stared for a moment too long.
"Thomas," Nathan said sharply, snapping his secretary out of his daze.
"My apologies, sir," Thomas said quickly, bowing his head slightly. He turned to Elena, offering a polite smile. "Thank you for saving Mr. Reed. He's… very important to us."
Elena smiled back, though she felt a bit unsettled by Thomas's reaction. Nathan noticed her discomfort and said, "I apologize for Thomas. He can be… intense."
"It's fine," Elena said, brushing it off. Her warm smile returned as she looked back at Nathan. "I'm just glad you're okay."
Nathan nodded, his expression softening. "You're a remarkable person, not many would do what you did. I'd like us to be friends, if you're okay with that. I don't meet people like you every day."
Elena hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I'd like that."
They continued to talk, their conversation flowing easily. Nathan found himself drawn to Elena's authenticity, while she appreciated his sincerity. Before she left, Elena asked about the driver's condition, and Nathan assured her that he was recovering well.
As Elena walked home that evening, she couldn't help but feel that her life had taken an unexpected turn. Little did she know, it was only the beginning of a connection that would change everything.