It wasn't until late into the night that Alex finally finished his last surgery. He wanted to meet Emily but was hesitant. As many things happened that night, many borders were crossed!
Exhausted but still concerned, he returned to the ICU waiting area, carrying a small tray of food. He wanted to offer some food to Emily. But he found Emily fast asleep in one of the chairs, her body curled up. .
Alex quietly set the food down beside her, then sat next to her, gently placing his apron over her to keep her warm. He watched her sleep for a moment, his thoughts swirling. He had been trying to forget everything related to Emily, but being here, now, with her, made it harder to keep that line clear.
Eventually, Emily stirred, blinking groggily as she woke up. When she saw Alex sitting beside her, she smiled sleepily. "You're still here?"
"I brought you something to eat," he said softly, gesturing to the tray.
She sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Thank you… again."
"No problem at all."
"My brother?"
"Yeah, I have checked him. He is doing well. But it will require some time to fully recover. But there is nothing to be worried about."
"Thank you, thank you so much! Without your help, I don't know what I would do!"
"Stop thanking me already! Eat something while the food is still hot!"
She looked at the tray full of fresh foods. "Let's eat together?"
She passed some buns to him and began to eat herself!
" How's your school and work going?"
"Nothing special to mention about my work. But my academic results are making progress and I hope to complete my credits before due time."
"Ah that's great. Such a talented student."
Everything around them went silent. It's already midnight and he was tired from all the running he had to do today. The tiredness was clearly visible on his face.
"Dr. Harrison!"
"Ah?"
"I think you should rest. I am okay to be here alone. You should leave, it's already midnight."
"Alright, I should go! But don't forget to call me if you need any help. I will be right here. Okay?"
(How should I call him, I don't have his phone number though)
"I will!"
"Give me your phone!"
"Ah?"
He took her phone and typed something, then his phone rang.
"This is my number! Save it. See you tomorrow"
"Good Night!"
—-
Time went by quickly. The sterile, clean scent of the hospital had become Emily's second home, the soft hum of machinery and hushed footsteps of the nurses now part of her daily routine. Every day after her shift, she came to sit by her brother's side, watching his slow but steady recovery.
She felt an odd sense of gratitude toward the staff, especially Dr. Harrison. Since the surgery, he'd been stopping by regularly, and although he claimed he was only checking on Liam's progress, he often lingered a bit longer, chatting with her briefly before being called away. Today, though, he stayed a few extra minutes, watching as she fussed over Liam's blankets.
"How's he doing?" Dr. Harrison's voice was gentle, his gaze soft as he watched Emily's focused care for her brother.
"Better." She glanced up at him and managed a small smile. "He even woke up a bit earlier, and asked for juice."
Alex smiled back, feeling the pull between them tighten each time they exchanged these small moments. He watched her with a quiet admiration, noticing the way fatigue seemed etched into her posture. There were dark circles under her eyes, a shadow of exhaustion across her face. He was worried about her.
"Are you sleeping enough, Emily?" he asked, his tone more probing than he intended.
"Oh, yes," she answered too quickly, brushing it off. "I'm used to it. It's not the first time I've worked overtime."
He nodded, though her words left him with a pang of guilt. He knew she was working herself to the bone to make ends meet, to cover expenses he couldn't help her with anymore. Yet he respected her independence too much to press her further.
The next evening, she came again to Liam's side after work, but tonight, she looked unusually drained. Her steps were slower, and she seemed to sway slightly as she stood beside her brother. Alex was in the room, adjusting Liam's monitor, and he noticed her immediately.
"Emily… You don't look well." His voice was laced with concern.
She managed a faint smile. "I'm fine. Just… more tired than usual."
"Maybe you should consider taking a night off," he suggested, his brow furrowing. "Or at least let me bring you a meal. It doesn't look like you've eaten today."
Emily chuckled softly, shaking her head. "I can't keep accepting help from you, Dr. Harrison. You've already done so much. Besides, I don't want to bother you more than I already have."
"Bother me?" His voice dropped as he stepped closer. "Emily, you're not a bother. You're…" He trailed off, catching himself, but her gaze was already on him, curious and questioning.
A silence settled between them, the kind that felt as though something unspoken had been left in the air. He broke the moment by clearing his throat, brushing a hand through his hair, and taking a step back.
"If you won't let me help with anything else, at least let me buy you a meal,look I haven't eaten yet. Let's eat together?" he said with a smile that was half-nervous, half-sincere. "We could use the break."
She hesitated but found herself nodding. "Okay."
They walked together to the hospital canteen, a simple space with a few tables and warm lighting that made the sterile hospital environment feel softer. He ordered for both of them, passing her a set with a gentleness that she hadn't realized she missed.
"Thank you," she said, her voice soft as they sat down across from each other.
"So… you never told me much about yourself," Alex ventured. "I mean, beyond Liam and work, what do you do for fun?"
She laughed a little at the question. "Fun? That's a luxury for people like me. But I guess I used to enjoy drawing… Not that I have much time for it now."
Alex felt guilty, as he cannot help to bear some of her burdens. His heart aches!
"You draw? What kind of things?"
"People, mostly. My mom taught me a little when I was younger," she said, smiling nostalgically. "She used to be an art teacher, actually."
The conversation drifted into other memories, lighter ones. But Alex was again reminded that she was only sixteen and he should not have any kind of feeling for her. That's the line he cannot and never should cross. The problem was he had to remind him of this fact again and again.
(What's wrong with me?" I am not a teeneger, who has not seen any girl or hasn't been with one before! What about her, so special that I cannot ignore it at all?)
Their conversation was interrupted when Emily's phone buzzed. She glanced at it, and her face momentarily tightened before she put it away. He saw the flicker of worry in her eyes.
"Everything okay?" he asked.
"Oh, yeah," she replied quickly, a little too quickly. "Just a friend."
But it wasn't lost on him that her smile seemed a bit forced. He decided not to press, though he made a mental note to keep an eye out.
The next day, as he passed by Liam's room, he heard muffled voices coming from the hallway. Emily was talking to someone—a woman he recognized as one of the servers at the club he'd been to a few times. The woman handed her a small envelope, and Emily nodded gratefully before pocketing it. She noticed him watching and gave a quick smile, but he could sense a hint of discomfort in her eyes.
He couldn't help but wonder if there was something she wasn't telling him, yet he didn't feel it was his place to pry. This unspoken boundary they danced around was both frustrating and necessary, reminding him of his place. His own feelings made him feel almost reckless, but he was determined to respect her space.
Days passed, and each visit to Liam's room brought a brief interaction, a few exchanged smiles. They'd developed a small routine now, moments shared without words. She grew to trust him, bit by bit, and he… he found himself caring more than he'd ever intended.
One evening, noticing her visibly worn down from another long day, he broke the silence as they stood in the corridor outside Liam's room.
"Look, Emily, if you ever need help—even if it's not medical—please just let me know," he said gently. "I know you don't like taking help, but everyone deserves a little support now and then."
She looked up at him, surprised, and for a moment, she let her guard down, a flicker of vulnerability crossing her features. But just as quickly, she shook her head.
"I appreciate it, really. But I need to handle this myself."
Seeing that he didn't say anything in return. She thought he was angry!
She offered a soft smile. "Thank you, Dr. Harrison. Really, it means a lot to me. But I don't know how to repay you. You have already done a lot."
In that small exchange, something between them shifted, a thread of understanding weaving tighter. He knew he couldn't act on whatever feelings were brewing, and she—though grateful—still held her own world close. They'd both felt something, though, a spark that neither could deny but wouldn't dare acknowledge.
They parted with a nod, and as he watched her retreating figure, he found himself hoping, against all logic, that he'd somehow cross paths with her again the next day.