Not every broken heart involves a person. This week, Holby ED is tested by a case that’s as baffling as it is deeply human.

In a surprising twist on this week’s Casualty, Holby’s Emergency Department is confronted with a case that leaves even the most experienced staff lost for words. When Ava Linton is rushed in after falling near a local civic building, her physical injuries are minor — but what she reveals next leaves Cal and Dylan completely stunned.

Ava calmly insists she is in a romantic relationship… with the building itself.

To Cal, it seems like an elaborate joke at first. Charming and lighthearted as always, he tries to gently question her story. But Ava doesn’t waver. She speaks about the building with affection, calling it “reliable,” “safe,” and “the only love that’s never let me down.” Her words may sound strange, but her conviction is real.

Dylan, typically the more reserved and clinical of the pair, is immediately concerned. He suspects a deeper psychological issue and insists on bringing in psychiatric support. It soon becomes clear that Ava may be living with a rare condition known as objectophilia — where people develop emotional or romantic attachments to inanimate objects.

“He’s never hurt me,” Ava says. “People leave. People lie. But he’s always been there.”

As her story unfolds, so does the pain behind it. Ava’s past is filled with instability — neglect, broken relationships, and a lifelong struggle to feel secure. Years ago, she sought refuge in that very building during a crisis. Since then, it’s become a symbol of everything she’s been missing: consistency, comfort, and love.

While Dylan remains cautious, Cal begins to see the person beneath the diagnosis. He listens. He empathises. And he realises Ava isn’t delusional — she’s emotionally wounded, clinging to the one place that’s never betrayed her.

“She doesn’t need fixing,” Cal says quietly to Dylan. “She needs understanding.”

But not everyone agrees. Hospital management is concerned about Ava’s behaviour, especially her repeated visits and emotional dependence on the building. They suggest she be referred for further treatment — or even banned from the premises.

The decision falls to the team: protect Ava’s dignity and find a way to support her, or follow protocol and push her away?

This emotionally charged episode challenges both Cal and Dylan to confront their own assumptions — about mental health, compassion, and the many ways people cope with pain. What begins as a bizarre confession turns into a moving exploration of love in its most unexpected form.

In a surprising twist on this week’s Casualty, Holby’s Emergency Department is confronted with a case that leaves even the most experienced staff lost for words. When Ava Linton is rushed in after falling near a local civic building, her physical injuries are minor — but what she reveals next leaves Cal and Dylan completely…