LOGINThe evening sky had turned amber when Sienna stepped out of the hospital doors. She walked briskly toward the bus stop and ordered a ride-hailing taxi. On the way, her mind couldn’t stop drifting to Elena.She tried to calm herself, gazing out the car window that reflected the streetlights.“Maybe I’m just worrying too much,” she murmured softly.But her heart remained restless. Ever since becoming a mother, every moment of silence felt like a sign that something was wrong.When the car stopped in front of the house, Sienna quickly got out. She knocked lightly on the door, but there was no answer.“That’s strange. The nanny usually opens right away,” she whispered, pulling out the spare key she always carried.As soon as the door opened, the familiar scent of milk and baby powder greeted her.“Elena?” she called softly.No reply. She hurried to the living room and found the baby’s crib in the corner, empty.Sienna held her breath, but then she heard a faint sound coming from the bedro
The ticking clock in the operating room blended with the steady beeping of the heart monitor.“Scalpel,” Liam said firmly, and the nurse handed it to him immediately. His focus was sharp, every move calculated under the blinding white surgical light.For nearly two hours, the room was filled only with short commands and the sound of quick footsteps. Finally, Liam exhaled and took off his gloves.“The patient’s stable. Close carefully,” he said, stepping back from the table.A young doctor beside him smiled in relief. “Operation went clean, Doctor. No complications.”Liam nodded, patting his shoulder. “Good job.”He pulled off his mask and glanced at the clock almost two in the afternoon.“Sienna should be done too,” he murmured, taking out his phone and dialing her number.At another hospital, Sienna had just finished assisting Dr. Alden. She was sitting in the doctors’ lounge, resting her head against the back of the couch.“That was a long one,” said Dr. Alden as he poured himself s
“Hmm…” Liam glanced at the watch on his wrist. The short hand had just touched the number eight. Elena's nanny should have been here half an hour ago. But this morning, the house was still quiet, save for the soft sound from the baby monitor near the dining table.A small murmur came from the room. Liam immediately stood up and strode quickly. Inside the crib, Elena was already awake. The tiny baby stared in her father's direction, her eyes large and clear, her cheeks flushed like little apples."Morning, sweetheart," Liam said softly as he approached. "You're up so early, huh?"Elena moved her little hands, trying to grasp the air. Liam smiled, lifting the baby into his arms. "Oh my, you're getting heavier. Papa needs to exercise more often."Elena didn't understand, only letting out a small murmuring sound. Liam kissed her warm cheek. "Your nanny hasn't arrived, so Papa will be your babysitter today, okay?"Elena gazed at her father's face with an innocent look. Liam let out a small
Morning came slowly, wrapped in the scent of toasted bread and the gentle clatter of pans in the kitchen. I had just closed my notebook, my eyes still heavy, when the sound of Liam’s footsteps made me turn.“I’m not dreaming, am I? You’re really in the kitchen this early?” I asked, half teasing.Liam turned from the stove, smiling. “Not a dream. Breakfast for two doctors and one little future patient who’s still sleeping soundly.”I chuckled, glancing at the table where my open anatomy textbook lay. “You know, I tried reading the chapter about abdominal vascularization three times, but all I can remember is Elena’s crying last night.”“Normal,” he said, pouring juice into glasses. “If you can memorize arteries with a baby crying, that means you’re not human.”I smiled. Amid the pile of notes and a cup of cold coffee, my eyes drifted to Elena in her small crib in the living room. Her tiny body was still wrapped in a blanket, her face calm. Every now and then her fingers twitched, as if
Midnight.Elena’s cry pulled me out of the light sleep I had just fallen into. It wasn’t loud, but enough to make me sit up right away. In the dim glow of the bedside lamp, I saw her tiny body wriggling in the crib, her face flushed and her lips trembling softly.I turned to the other side of the bed. Liam was awake too, almost at the same moment his phone started ringing on the table. The sound was familiar the emergency call tone from the hospital.He looked at the screen for only a few seconds before letting out a quiet sigh.“Emergency surgery,” he said.“Elena’s crying,” I whispered, lifting our baby into my arms.Liam was already half standing, reaching for his shirt and the white coat hanging on the chair. His eyes met mine, filled with visible hesitation.“I can call the substitute doctor. Maybe...”I shook my head quickly. “No, go. They need you.”“Sienna…”“Liam, you took an oath to save lives. I’m here, and Elena’s with me. We’ll be fine.”For a moment, he didn’t move. The
The sky was already dark when I stepped out of the hospital. I had just finished my first day in the ER, twelve full hours filled with adrenaline, blood, and breaths racing against time.I looked at my palms, still trembling slightly. Even after washing them many times, there was still a faint shadow of blood stains that seemed to cling beneath the skin. Strangely, I didn’t feel disgusted. Liam’s car was already parked out front. He got out as soon as he saw me coming through the hospital doors.“Hey,” his voice was soft, but filled with relief.I smiled weakly. “You didn’t have to pick me up, I could have... ”“No excuses. It’s your first day, isn’t it? I wanted to make sure you got home safely.”I got into the car.“You look exhausted,” Liam said.“I think I am, but I can still talk, so that’s a good sign.”He gave a faint smile and handed me a bottle of water. “Drink first. You probably haven’t had a proper meal either.”I took it, sipped a little, then leaned back against the seat







