Buried in the Avalanche Our Love Expired novel Chapter 3

Chapter 3 The Northern Lights He Chose Over Her

Darkness swallowed Nella like an abyss, and all she could hear were desperate cries for help in different languages echoing around her.
When she opened her eyes again, she saw a pristine white ceiling.
“You’re awake?”
The voice spoke in familiar, accented Oldeesh.
Nella turned her head and saw a young doctor looking at her.
“How are you feeling?”
The doctor adjusted his glasses and asked gently.
“I … ”
Her voice was terribly hoarse.
“You’ve been unconscious for five days. Being rescued alive from an avalanche is incredibly lucky. Just rest well now and recover before you’re discharged.”
Nella nodded and thanked him. “Thank you, doctor.”
“Wesley Keywood.”
Nella froze. “Sorry … what?”
“I said, my name is Wesley Keywood.”
The doctor introduced himself. “If you need anything, feel free to reach out to me anytime.”
“Oh, okay. Thank you, Dr. Keywood.”
After thanking him, she suddenly remembered something and said to Wesley, “Dr. Keywood, could you help me buy a phone and get a SIM card? I need to let my family know I’m safe.”
Wesley nodded. “Sure, I’ll go get that for you in a bit.”
“Thank you so much.”
After Wesley left, Nella suddenly remembered that her ID and other documents were still at the hotel in Glimmering Isles. Wesley wouldn’t be able to get her a replacement SIM card without them.
But an hour later, Wesley returned with a new phone and had already gotten her SIM card replaced.
“I really appreciate this, Dr. Keywood. I’ll transfer the money to you right away.”
Wesley nodded. “Okay.”
As he spoke, he pulled his phone from his white coat pocket and held it out to her. “Add me on Facebook Messenger, and I’ll send you my bank account details.”
Nella didn’t think much of it and nodded, immediately logging into her Facebook Messenger.
As soon as she opened it, messages flooded in with constant pinging.
“Nella, I just saw on the news that there was an avalanche in Glacieroth a few days ago. Are you okay?”
“Nella, don’t scare me. Call me back right away.”
Then there were messages from several colleagues at the hospital.
“Dr. Milo, I heard an earthquake triggered an avalanche in Glimmering Isles. I remember you were there watching the northern lights. Are you okay?”
“Dr. Milo, please reply as soon as you see this. We’re so worried about you.”
Nella was stunned.
There were messages from various other acquaintances too, but the conversation she’d marked as her favorite was empty.
Nella touched her chest. Though it still felt a bit tight, it wasn’t as bad as she’d imagined. It didn’t hurt that much.
She quickly called her mother, Felicia Quill, who answered almost immediately.
“Nella, are you okay? You scared me to death.”
Felicia’s choked-up voice came through the phone.
“Mom, I’m sorry. I’m fine. I changed my itinerary at the last minute and happened to avoid it. The place where I was staying didn’t have signal, so I couldn’t reach you.”
She made up an excuse, not wanting to worry her mother.
“No wonder I couldn’t reach you, and Alfred’s phone was turned off too. I’m so glad you’re okay, so glad.”
“Yeah, don’t worry, Mom and Dad. I’ll head home in a couple days once I get my documents replaced.”
After hanging up, she replied to everyone else to let them know she was safe. Only then did she notice that Wesley was still standing there waiting for her.
Looking at Wesley’s screen showing his Facebook Messenger QR code, Nella’s expression turned sheepish. “Sorry, Dr. Keywood. I made you wait.”
“It’s fine. Can you add me now?”
Wesley smiled. Nella quickly scanned his QR code and added him on Facebook Messenger.
“Dr. Keywood, how much was everything? I’ll transfer it to you.”
“Just send whatever you think is fair.”
Nella thought …
That was an option?
Wesley really didn’t seem to care about the money for the phone. After adding her on Facebook Messenger, he was called away by a nurse.
Nella found it all rather strange.
If he didn’t care about the money, why did he insist on waiting for her to add him on Facebook Messenger?
She’d thought he was worried she’d skip out on the debt.
During her days at the hospital, it was mostly Wesley who brought her meals. She felt really embarrassed about it.
Wesley said that running into a fellow countryman abroad was fate, and helping out was only natural.
Under Wesley’s care, she recovered well.
“Dr. Keywood, I really can’t thank you enough for these past few days.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Wesley casually adjusted his glasses. “We’re compatriots. No need to be so formal.”
He’d said this many times already, and Nella couldn’t help but smile.
Wesley walked her out of the hospital and asked, “Heading home today?”
“Yeah, my leave ends tomorrow, and there’s a lot to handle at the hospital.”
At this, she paused and looked at Wesley with a smile. “I haven’t introduced myself properly. I’m also a doctor.”
Wesley smiled. “What a coincidence. Maybe we can exchange professional notes sometime.”
Nella nodded. “Sure. Well, I should get going.”
“Okay, goodbye.”
…
On the plane to Craystan Airport, Nella came across Zoey’s Facebook post again.
“Guess who’s watching the northern lights with me? Wow! It’s my dream guy!”
Nine photos were attached.
The northern lights in Askine were breathtakingly beautiful.
Even through the screen, you could see how stunning the northern lights were.
And beneath the lights were two overlapping shadows, one tall and one short, nestled close together.
She didn’t need to guess to know it was Alfred.
“So he went to Askine to watch the northern lights with Zoey.”
She stared at her phone screen and murmured absently.
She wondered if the northern lights in Askine were more beautiful than those in Glimmering Isles.
She clicked on Alfred’s profile and unfollowed him.
…
At that moment in Askine, Alfred stared at his phone screen, unusually lost in thought.
Since they’d parted that day, he and Nella hadn’t been in contact.
This was extremely unusual.
Nella loved to share things. Even if she saw an interesting leaf on her way to work, she’d take a photo and send it to him, even though he found it boring and often didn’t know what to say back.
He’d never been someone who let himself get caught up in emotional turmoil, so when he didn’t know what to reply, he simply didn’t reply at all.
But now, nearly two weeks had passed since they’d separated, and Nella hadn’t sent a single message. That wasn’t like her at all.
Given her usual personality, with such beautiful northern lights, how could she not share photos with him?
Was she sulking?
Because he’d left her behind to save Zoey?
If that was the reason, it seemed pretty unreasonable. When someone’s life was at stake, how could he have just stood by?
Thinking this, Alfred’s brow furrowed unconsciously.
“Alfred, what are you thinking about? Come help me take photos.”
Zoey ran up to him holding a camera. When she caught a glimpse of what was on Alfred’s phone screen, her smile faltered briefly, but she quickly recovered.