[Psych ward au]

Till had been a nurse at Anakt Psychiatric Hospital for years. He had seen all kinds of patients—some violent, some lost in their own minds, some who never spoke at all. He had learned to keep a distance, to do his job without getting too attached. But then there was Ivan.

Ivan was different. His delusions weren’t just paranoia or nonsense. They were stories, detailed and vivid, like he was living in a world no one else could see. Some days, he spoke of people who weren’t there, of places that didn’t exist. Other days, he was quiet, staring out the window like he was waiting for something only he understood. Till knew he wasn’t supposed to listen too closely, wasn’t supposed to care too much. But he couldn’t help it.

Maybe it was the way Ivan looked at him, like he saw something in Till no one else did. Maybe it was the rare moments of clarity, when Ivan would smile, soft and tired, and Till would wonder what it would be like if things were different. It was dangerous, caring like this. A nurse wasn’t supposed to fall for a patient. But no matter how hard he tried, Till couldn’t stop himself.