Chapter 6 - THE NIGHT THE HOSPITAL WENT DARK
The power failure happened at 2:13 a.m.
The ICU lights flickered.
Monitors switched to backup power.
An alarm sounded from the central station.
I was checking Alessandro's medication when the hallway went dark.
Emergency lighting activated.
I moved immediately to verify that his critical equipment remained powered and functioning.
The backup systems were working.
But something felt wrong.
The hospital had redundant power supplies.
A complete failure of the primary system was unusual.
Then I heard footsteps.
Fast.
Too fast.
Someone entered the hallway.
A man wearing hospital scrubs.
A surgical mask.
And a badge turned backward.
He stopped when he saw me.
“Maintenance,” he said.
I looked at his hands.
No tools.
No equipment.
“Which department?”
He hesitated.
“Facilities.”
I stepped toward the nurses' station.
“Show me your identification.”
He moved.
Not toward the exit.
Toward Alessandro's room.
I hit the security alarm.
The man lunged.
I stepped aside.
He struck the doorframe.
Security officers rushed from the stairwell.
The intruder turned and ran.
Alessandro was awake when I returned.
His eyes were sharp.
“What happened?”
“Security incident.”
He looked toward the hallway.
“Was he here for me?”
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't know.
The hospital immediately restricted access to the unit.
Police were notified.
Security footage was preserved.
The intruder escaped through a service exit.
But investigators found something important.
The badge he had used belonged to a temporary contractor.
And the contractor's access had been approved through a vendor company connected to Matteo Rossi.
The following morning, Alessandro requested a transfer to a secure medical facility once his physicians considered it safe.
I supported the decision.
His safety mattered.
But so did the safety of every other patient on the floor.
Before he left, he asked to speak with me.
“Emily.”
“Yes?”
“Come with me.”
I stared.
“What?”
“Private nursing. I'll pay whatever you want.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
He looked disappointed.
“Why?”
“Because I'm not going to abandon my patients.”
He studied me.
Then nodded.
“Fair.”
I smiled.
“And because you need a team, not one exhausted nurse.”
His mouth twitched.
“You're very good at saying no.”
I smiled.
“Practice.”
He reached for my hand.
This time, I hesitated.
Then took it.
“Will I see you again?” he asked.
I looked at him.
“If you keep recovering.”
May you like
He smiled.
“Then I'll have to.”
