“You guys really shouldn’t have!” Zoe said. After work, her colleagues had surprised her, bringing in flowers and her favourite pistachio cream cake. As embarrassed as she was, she couldn’t wipe the big smile off her face.

  “Thank your boyfriend,” Carol said. “If it wasn’t for him, then we’d have no idea that you would be jetting off to Greece. If only a man would take me somewhere far away from the bitter cold…” she batted her eyes at Roman who responded by pursing his lips.

  “Are you sure you really should be going?” The male vet said. “What with…”

  “Yes,” Zoe said. After the conversation the other day with Ever, her mind was made up. “I’m going to Mount Olympus next week.”

  “Mount Olympus?” Jin asked. Even off duty, she was busying herself by cradling Mimi and scratching her behind the ears. “Where the Greek gods are said to live?”

  “Mm-hmm,” she replied. “The one and the same.”

  “You’re going to climb the mountain?” She continued.

  “I mean…” Zoe exchanged a look with Ever.

  “We’re going to have some guides to help us,” he said.

  “You’ve never mentioned anything about Mt Olympus being on your bucket list,” Roman said with a frown.

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  “Well, I’m telling you guys now.” Zoe cut into a slice of cake and chewed quietly.

  “How long will you be gone for?” Carol asked. Taking the cue, she cut a slice of cake for herself.

  “I’m not sure.” Zoe put the plate onto the wheely table. “As long as we need to be, I guess.”

  She surveyed her colleagues, catching the furtive look they were passing amongst each other.

  “What?” She asked.

  “It’s just…” Jin crouched down and let Mimi run to her food bowl in the corner of the room. “It’s really sudden and… you’re not going to be here for that much longer…”

  “Oh that’s the other thing,” Zoe said. “I’m not going to die anymore.” She picked up her plate of cake and cut a couple cubes out of her slice. “In fact, when I come back from Greece, I’ll probably be coming back to work.”

  Roman, Carol and Jin shifted uncomfortably, taking turns glancing furtively at Ever when Zoe wasn’t paying attention.

  “I’ll look after her,” he said, placing his hand on shoulder. He smiled, trying his best to ignore how much her shoulder had shrunk under the hospital gown. “I’ll be with her the entire time.”

  “That’s…” Roman clenched his jaw. “That’s not…” he closed his eyes and exhaled. “Excuse me.” Turning on his heel, he marched stiffly out of the room.

  “Don’t mind him,” Carol said. “He’s been under a lot of pressure at the clinic, taking on both yours and his patients.”

  “I know,” Zoe said. “The guy’s a trooper. Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without him.”

  “All you have to do is make sure you come back safe to us, OK?” Carol looked at both her and Ever. “The both of you.”