Stitches in my Heart

Chapter 9 + Writer's Concluding Note

{Writer's teeny tiny request: Please listen to "Hunger" by Ross Copperman  on loop while reading this final chapter. Thank you.}

Claire was seated alone on a table for two, in a noisy and busy diner. She welcomed the happy chit chatter of everyone around her. Surgeons were so used to hearing agonizing and traumatizing sounds of ORs, hospital machines, grieving patients and their family members. Such moments of unbridled happiness and casual conversations, were welcome experiences. For Claire, having lost her mom recently, immersing herself in places like these brought her a sense of comfort now. Her mom was the chit chatty one, always having something to say, her heart still grieved and hurt at the loss, at the chance of her mom healing along with their relationship, but that chance was so cruelly taken away. She didn't know if the pain would ever completely go away, but it had gotten less hurtful recently. It were her therapy sessions, of course, but the major reason of her regaining and rediscovering her strength and peace, was him. Neil Melendez.

She knew he might never fully understand the immeasurable support and comfort he had given her. It was their growing friendship that helped her rediscover herself after the grief, helped her feel alive again. It was a cliché, Claire chuckled, but she knew it was the most unadulterated truth. He had become her anchor and her wings. And oh boy, she was so fully and completely in love with him.

Claire was munching on the complimentary roasted peanuts when she felt him before she saw him, just as the diner doorbell rang signaling new customers. In a restaurant full of people, she smelled his intoxicating cologne. Felt his alpha and invigorating energy. Claire chuckled to herself once again, she was describing him like one of the male characters in cliché romantic novels. But damn she knew how true it was. He was an alpha. He exuded alpha energy as a mentor, as a surgeon, but he also exuded kindness and a soothing softness in his demeanor and actions. For a moment she let her thoughts run wild and let herself imagine how alpha he would be sexually. She deduced that he would be the perfect romantic blend of passionate and gentleness. God! He probably knew an infinite number of ways to seduce a woman with his looks, words and touch. She let herself slip into imagining his lips and hands and his body, on her...in her. The thoughts drove her into insane arousal and she felt herself involuntarily clutching her legs tighter together.

She let out a cold deep breath and turned behind to see Neil walking up to the table. Both their faces were smitten and love-struck, as soon as their eyes met.

"Hey"

"Hey" Neil said, taking his seat opposite to Claire, not even blinking. He missed her every second that he didn't see her.

They were both adults in arguably the toughest profession that exists, but right now, their hearts were overtaken by a giddy and overwhelming happiness. They had settled into such a comfortable rhythm together that they didn't even try to conceal or be coy with each other anymore. After all, their work relationship and friendship from the start had been built on honesty and never bore any facades. They did, however try their hardest to conceal one tiny matter of fact, that they were both so in love with each other.

Over the past few weeks, they had become the highlight of each other's days..and nights. Working together had always been a pleasure for them both but they would be lying if they didn't admit that it had become a little more special since recently. Meeting after work to unwind, taking cathartic jogs and walks together, sharing their thoughts and feelings, it's as if they had created their own bubble. A bubble of pure respect, gratitude, admiration, happiness and love. A bubble that was so strongly rooted in each other, that it would never become weak enough to pop.

"So how was your day?" Claire said taking a sip of water

"Hectic as usual but..I wanted to tell you something. Now I can't tell you what it is myself yet because of policy, but if you guess it yourself..oh well, no rules will be broken" Neil said with a smirky grin. Oh how he wanted to break all rules with her.