"Hello, is this Emily Carter?"
"Yes, speaking!"
"Miss. Carter, I am from the ER of MedStar General Hospital. Your brother Liam got into a car accident. Can you please come over?"
The world collapsed. She couldn't bring herself to speak. She started running. Running, running until she reached the hospital. Her school was not so far from the hospital. It took her nearly 10 mins to reach!
In the crowded emergency room, Emily sat hunched over, her body shaking with silent sobs. She had spent hours waiting for news about her younger brother, Liam, who had been in a tragic road accident earlier that afternoon. The doctors had informed her that Liam's condition was critical—he needed emergency neurological surgery, but the only available specialist was busy with a grueling schedule of back-to-back operations.
"Please… someone… help him," Emily whispered, her voice barely audible through her tears.
A duty physician cautiously walked toward her, his face solemn. I'm afraid your brother has serious injuries, Miss Carter. He needs surgery right away, but our current specialist, Dr. Harrison, has six surgeries scheduled for the day. Fitting into another case is challenging, and his services are not inexpensive.
The fear of losing her brother was far more powerful than the words, which struck her like a sledgehammer. Other than ensuring Liam's survival, she was indifferent to the expense. She pleaded, her voice breaking, "Please. "You must be able to do something. All I have is him
The doctor scowled more deeply. "I can't promise anything, but I'll talk to Dr. Harrison."
With her hands clasped tightly in her lap and rocking back and forth in desperation, Emily crumpled even more into her seat. Her sense of powerlessness was only heightened by the hospital's sterile odor and the chilly fluorescent lighting. Being out of control and powerless to change anything was a familiar feeling, but it was worse this time. The life of her brother was at stake.
After their mother's death, Emily has gone through a lot to support her and her brother. What hasn't she done? Why did she always have to suffer? Always! Whenever she thinks everything is getting better, she can manage and then she gets a slap or even a hard slap on her face. This reality is something else. She cannot do anything. She cannot even save her little brother. That sucks!
Across the hall, Dr. Alex Harrison walked briskly, already running the details of his next surgery through his mind. He had a demanding day ahead of him… operations lined up back-to-back. His schedule didn't allow for much flexibility, and as much as he wished for a break, there were lives at stake. He couldn't afford to falter, not even for a moment.
As he passed by the emergency waiting room, something—someone—caught his eye. A young woman slouched on one of the benches, her face hidden by her hands. For a moment, he couldn't place her, but something about the way she held herself, the way her body shook, tugged at the back of his mind.
Then it hit him.
"Emily?"
It had been six long months since Dr. Alex Harrison last saw Emily Carter, but those memories never faded from his mind. Their encounter had been brief and intense, the kind of moment that left an impression. Yet, despite her haunting presence in his thoughts, Alex had never sought her out. He kept his life firmly divided between personal and professional responsibilities. That's how he liked it, orderly and disciplined.
His feet halted, and he turned back, narrowing his eyes as he took in the scene. It was her for sure. The girl he had never forgotten. The one who had crashed into his life so unexpectedly and then disappeared without a trace. She hadn't recognized him, but there was no mistaking it. It was her.
"Dr. Harrison," a voice interrupted his thoughts. The duty doctor stood beside him, clipboard in hand. "We have an emergency situation—a patient with severe head trauma from a road accident. He needs neurological surgery immediately. The family can't afford the full costs."
"I don't know if you want to have the surgery. We don't have any other neurosurgeons right now!" He hesitated. 'Give me the details!"
"Ah…His sister is over there."
"Her brother?" he asked, his voice quieter now, realizing why Emily was there.
The doctor nodded. "Yes. His condition is critical."
Alex ran a hand through his hair, glancing at his schedule for the day. Six surgeries, all of them essential. He had a duty to his other patients, all of whom had been waiting for weeks, some even months, for their operations. He couldn't just drop even one surgery. He couldn't let his personal feelings cloud his judgment. But her brother's operation is an emergency case. He had to perform the operation regardless of her sister. That's his duty. To serve the people with knowledge.
There was no way he could turn away .
"Schedule the operation," Alex said firmly, "but during my break between surgeries. I'll take care of it then."
The duty doctor looked surprised. "But, sir—"
"No arguments," Alex interrupted. "We'll keep the costs to a minimum for her. Don't need to tell her."
With that, Alex turned and made his way to the operating theater, his mind already shifting back to the immediate task at hand. As much as Emily's presence unnerved him, he had other patients to think about. His dedication to his work came first, and even for Emily, he wouldn't compromise that.
Hours later, after performing several operations back-to-back, Alex finally found a brief break between surgeries. He rushed to the operating room where Liam lay unconscious, his body hooked up to monitors and life-support machines. The boy had suffered severe head trauma, internal bleeding, and swelling in the brain—a situation that required immediate intervention.
Alex snapped on his gloves and surgical mask, addressing his team. "Prep the patient for a craniotomy. We need to relieve the intracranial pressure and remove any clots. Let's move quickly, but carefully."
The surgical team sprang into action, working in perfect synchrony. Despite his exhaustion, Alex remained composed, his hands as steady as ever. He was known for his precision and cool-headedness under pressure, traits that had earned him a stellar reputation.
Alex remained focused throughout the entire operation. He had the dexterity and knowledge of a surgeon who had performed innumerable high-stakes operations. He removed any clots that had formed, clamped blood vessels, and carefully relieved pressure. Every action was calculated, and every choice was carefully considered.
One of the nurses shouted, "Vitals are stable," over the faint hum of the machines.
Alex muttered, his brow knitted in focus, "Good." "We're nearly there."
Despite the lengthy and taxing procedure, Alex never wavered. Thoughts of Emily flickered in the back of his mind, but his attention was fixed on the task at hand. Now he couldn't allow them to divert him. Later, there would be time to consider her.
Right now, he was a surgeon, and this boy's life was in his hands.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Alex made the final stitch, his shoulders slumping