3.Congratulations or What?!

SYLVIE

I took a sharp breath as my eyes met with Logan’s. What is he doing here? Isn’t he supposed to be on a business trip?

I could feel the eyes of everyone on me, waiting to pounce on me. My sweaty hands squeezed my proposal paper as my anxiety got the better of me.

“Wasting my time isn't on my itinerary today, Dr. Rhodes,” Logan said and I swallowed hard. No one in the hospital apart from Maryann and Emily knows we are married. Logan demanded we keep it a secret.

Not only am I in a loveless marriage, but I'm in a secret one too. “I’m sorry, this was a mistake,” I said and turned around.

“Do not walk out that door,” I heard Maryann’s voice and I turned. “You asked to be heard,” her tone felt cold. “So you better speak up.”

I looked at my husband, hoping to find a glimmer of assurance but his expression was unreadable, his eyes piercing through me like ice. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I turned back to Maryann.

“I...I apologize,” I stammered, trying to compose myself. My trembling hands tightened the grip on my folder. “I’m here today to turn in my proposal to change the course of treatment for my patient, Kate.”

“What!” Logan got up from his seat. His voice had a bit of concern in it. His brows furrowed at me, studying me. “Are you serious?” he asked. I looked at him, shocked and confused. He doesn’t know my patient, so why is he acting strange?

Logan sat down quickly when my eyes met his. I’m pretty sure my eyes were asking a lot of questions but I'm going to give my answers to him.

“Yes, I'm serious. I’ve been reviewing her case extensively, and I believe the current treatment plan isn’t yielding the results we hoped for. If we don’t act soon, she could—” I hesitated, “She could deteriorate further.

My eyes drifted to Logan, he took a sharp breath. With his hands running through his dark hair. His face was red and filled with worry. I could tell he was trying to hide it but he isn’t doing a very good job.

“Do you realize how much paperwork, how many approvals, and how much risk this involves? The board isn’t just going to sign off on a complete shift without solid justification,” Maryann said.

I know.” My voice was steadier now, my confidence growing. “That’s why I’ve compiled all the data. I have evidence to support the change, along with an alternative approach that I believe will give her a real chance.” I placed the folder on the table, my fingers sliding on the edge.

The hospital's Chief of general surgery sighed, looking down at the documents before glancing back at me. “This is a long shot, you know that?”

“I do,” I admitted, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. “But if there’s even the slightest chance to save her, don’t you think we should take it?”

“I think we should,” he said, looking at Maryann and other senior surgeons, who nodded as well.

“You all can’t be serious,” Logan blurted out suddenly. “You just said, it’s a long shot and has a lot of risk. Why are you going forward with it then?” he asked and I looked at him dumbfounded, unsure of what his stake in this is.

“Dr Rhodes is right. If we don’t take this risk we might lose her anyway,” the chief of general surgery explained. Trying to ease Logan’s mind. I watched as Maryann tried to explain everything to him. He didn’t look convinced as he strolled towards me.

“You better don’t screw this up,” he whispered and walked out of the conference room.

The next few days were critical, changing the course of a treatment of a patient can be very risky and might lead to a lot of consequences but this is the right path I’m taking. It has to be.

While in the patient room, I could see a lot of Doctors, and nurses lingering around. Including a little bit of press. What is Maryann thinking about bringing in the press? What if this doesn’t work? What will she have to say?

“Something is happening?” I heard one of the nurses in the room and I walked towards the bed, looking at the monitor.

“Oh my goodness,” I said with a smile. “She is waking up,” I silently squealed.

“This is amazing.”

“I can’t believe it worked.”

As the room erupted in a flurry of excitement and relief, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and vindication. Against all odds, my proposal had worked, and Kate was waking up. I glanced around the room, taking in the beaming faces of the medical team, the press scribbling furiously in their notebooks, and Maryann's triumphant smile.

But my gaze was drawn back to Kate, her eyelids fluttered as a faint groan escaped her lips. I took a step forward, my heart racing with excitement, as Kate's gaze locked onto mine.

“Hi, Kate. I’m Doctor Rhodes, welcome back,” I said beaming with a smile all over my face.

“You saved me, Doctor Rhodes,” she said, trying her best to smile.

“Wow, you are speaking. She is responding,” I said to the nurse beside me, who then scabbed some notes.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Maryann said, though even she had a hint of a smile. “Monitor her closely. We need to ensure this improvement isn’t temporary.”

I rolled my eyes but nodded. I knew her smiling earlier wasn’t for my benefit but hers. She must have a lot of stake in Kate, especially with the way Logan reacted earlier.

I turned to leave the room and I heard a faint sound. “Dr. Rhodes?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

I smiled, tears of joy pricking at the corners of my eyes. "Yes, Kate. It's me. You're going to be okay."

“Thank you,” she said with a little smile.

As Kate's eyes drifted shut again, a soft smile on her lips, I felt a sense of closure and satisfaction wash over me. This was what it was all about saving lives and making a difference.

But as I turned to leave the room, I caught sight of Logan standing in the doorway, a mixture of emotions on his face. For a moment, our eyes locked, and I felt a spark of connection that I couldn't ignore.

What was going on behind those piercing eyes? And why did I feel like he was hiding something from me?

As I walked towards the locker room, words of congratulations filled the air. I was just a girl with a bare minimum of treatment. Now, I’m a superstar.  I took a quick shower and headed back to Kate’s room. There is a need for constant checking on vitals in case of emergency. I stopped by the cafeteria to get her some food, she must be starving.

As I got closer to her room, I noticed the blinds were down. Which was weird because it was up when I left earlier. Besides, she needs to be seen by people to make everything believable. 

“Uhm, Kate. The blinds need to be up because…..” whatever words I had left were swallowed up by the sight in front of me. 

Logan. My husband. My secret husband. His lips were pressed against Kate’s, my patient. His hands, the same hands that make my heart race, are now gripping her waist as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

I stopped in my tracks, the tray of food slipping from my hands and crashing onto the floor with a loud clang. The sound barely registered in my ears over the deafening roar of my heartbeat.

No. No. This can’t be real.