The Kiss of Life Killed Our Marriage

My wife, Wendy Summer, bent over, ready to give the man who had fallen into the water mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but I stepped in front of her.

Wendy placed a calming hand on my shoulder. "Rowan, it's just CPR. Nothing's going to happen."

The people around us were praising her, but the looks directed at me were full of contempt.

I ignored them and gripped her wrist tightly. "If you want to save him, fine. But if you do, we're getting a divorce. I won't stop you."

She pried my fingers off and glared at me. "I'm trying to save a life! You're a doctor yourself. How can you stop me? Divorce isn't something you throw around lightly. What are you thinking?"

A white-haired elderly woman stood next to the drowned man. When she heard us arguing, she dropped to her knees.

"You're both doctors. You can't just watch him die. Please, save my son. He's the only one I have," she pleaded desperately.

The first good Samaritan who had jumped in after him was soaked to the bone. He gasped for breath and urged, "When I pulled him out, he was still alive! Doctor, you need to act now! Every second counts!"

The crowd began murmuring among themselves.

"I know that man. He's the old woman's only son, born late in her life. She raised him alone after his father passed. If he dies, she'll be devastated!"

"Exactly. That man means everything to her. If you don't let her save him, you'll be driving the poor woman to her grave!"

Wendy looked distressed, caught between the two of us. "Rowan, you heard them. She only has one son. Let me save him first. We can deal with our issues later, okay?"

I stood in front of her and firmly said, "You heard me. As long as we get a divorce, you can do whatever you want to save him. I won't interfere."

The elderly woman gripped Wendy's hands and begged, "I know you're a good person. Please save my son. If anything happens to him, I won't live either!"

Wendy dragged me aside and snapped, "Rowan Smith, how petty can you be! Doctors swear an oath to save lives. Have you forgotten that? Turning your back on someone who might die is no different from murder! Have you completely lost your sense of ethics?"

The crowd quickly joined in the condemnation.

"Exactly! Can you bear the guilt if he dies?"

"How can you be so heartless? That's inhuman!"

I didn't budge. "Enough. I've called an ambulance. Other doctors will take over."

Wendy shook her head in disappointment. "Rowan, every second counts when saving a life. Stop being unreasonable!"

She turned to reassure the elderly woman. "Ma'am, don't worry. I'll save your son."

I remained in her way, and Wendy's patience snapped. She shoved me roughly, almost knocking me off my feet, and circled around to give emergency care to the man in the water.

I stared at her and firmly said, "Very well. This is your choice."

I reached into my bag and pulled out a few sheets of paper and a pen. That was the draft of my promotion report I had planned to submit after my leave.

I flipped to the blank side, wrote a divorce agreement in a blur, and shoved it in front of her. "Since you want to be a hero, sign it. Sign this, and then do whatever you want to save him."