Lungs Full of Love

After a long and difficult journey, Lucy Chen was more than happy to end her rookie year on a light note. She handed a small box to Tim Bradford, who was officially no longer her Training Officer and could not retaliate when her present was actually a prank in disguise. White powder exploded all over his face when he opened his "gift", and she said, "It's been a blast, sir," with a giggle.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Lucy," he replied, still trying out saying her first name instead of her last or referring to her as "boot".

"See you tomorrow, Tim," she responded happily and walked away. She stopped in her tracks after a few paces when she felt her lungs tickle, and she coughed a few times until something came out. When Lucy pulled back the hand covering her mouth, she saw a few small blue flower petals and blood. It was not the first time it happened, but it was starting to scare her, understandably so. For peace of mind, she promised herself she would book a doctor's appointment after going out to celebrate the end of her rookie year with Jackson West.

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Lucy was nervous when she stepped into an exam room, but the second Grace Sawyer walked in, she felt a bit at ease.

"Hey, Lucy, I was surprised when you called. What's going on?" Grace wondered.

"I've had this weird cough, and...it's really unpredictable," Lucy explained.

She scanned her reserved expression. "What aren't you telling me about this cough?"

Lucy worried at her lip. "It's...it's gonna sound weird, but...when I cough, there's usually a little blood and...flower petals."

"Flower petals," Grace repeated evenly.

"You think I'm losing my mind, don't you? I swear it happened just a few days ago."

"Okay. I'll need to take a listen to your lungs." Grace pressed a stethoscope to Lucy's chest and back, and she heard something odd enough that she suggested, "I think we should take an x-ray to get a better look."

Lucy really tried not to panic, but she did, so she thought back to the last time she had a health scare when a dirty needle was in her side. Tim was there to keep her calm and focused to avoid spiraling out of control, so she thought of him as she changed into a hospital gown, and then she coughed again into her hand. When she pulled it away, she saw the petals then made a fist to hold onto her evidence until Grace returned. "I told you it's real. Look!" She showed her the four small blue petals that had come out of her lungs as proof that her curious cough was real.

"I believe you. Let's head up to imaging for that x-ray," Grace responded. After capturing a few images, she reviewed the x-rays in awe by herself before re-entering Lucy's exam room and taking a seat at the rolling stool like she always did before delivering bad news. "Lucy, there are flowers growing in your lungs."

"Flowers? What-"

"It's a rare disease. I've only ever seen it in textbooks back when I was in medical school. It's called Hanahaki Disease."

"That sounds...serious."

"Well, it can be, but let's not go to worst case scenario. Let's stick with the facts: you can make a complete recovery and the flowers will go away once...well, once the person you love loves you back."

Lucy blinked hard a few times, because that did not seem like a medical diagnosis and not at all what she was expecting. "What does love have to...I don't even love anyone."

"According to your lungs, you do. The vines and flowers are small, which means it's fairly new, but the proof is in your x-rays. You love someone."

"Who?"