Bound by the Waves

Chapter 1: Unplanned Escape

The black dress I had chosen felt heavier now, clinging uncomfortably to my skin as I stood in front of the mirror. It wasn’t the dress, though—it was the weight of expectation that pressed down on me. I adjusted the neckline, pulling at the sleeves, but no matter how I fixed it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was dressing up for a role I never wanted to play.

Tonight was supposed to be important, my mother had reminded me a dozen times. She had spoken about the dinner as if it were the grand climax of a well-rehearsed play, where I, the reluctant star, would meet Mr. Salvador, a man who apparently ticked every box for what my family thought I needed.

I smoothed the fabric of my dress again, my fingers brushing against the silky material, but all I could feel was the tightness in my chest.

“Just dinner, Sydney,” I whispered to myself, though the words felt hollow.

Stepping out of my apartment, I was greeted by the cool evening air, crisp with the scent of autumn leaves and distant city fumes. The cab ride to the restaurant was a blur of lights flashing by, the city alive with its usual evening rush, but my mind was elsewhere. I was running through every possible scenario, each one more uncomfortable than the last. What would Mr. Salvador be like? Would he be polite? Would he know this dinner was arranged like some antiquated matchmaking event? I tried to picture him—tall, refined, maybe—but each version felt more like a stranger.

When I arrived at the restaurant, the soft glow of chandeliers spilling out onto the street made it look more like a palace than a place for dinner. Inside, waiters in crisp uniforms moved gracefully between tables, the low hum of conversation creating an air of quiet opulence. My parents were already seated near the back, my mother’s posture perfectly straight as she spotted me, waving with an excited smile.

I forced a smile of my own and made my way over. Every step felt deliberate, as though I were being watched, judged by every passing glance. I could already hear my mother’s voice in my head: Smile, Sydney, posture, don’t fidget.

“Sweetheart, you look lovely,” my mother said as I reached the table, standing to kiss me on the cheek. My father nodded approvingly, his hands resting on the table in front of him, already deep in conversation with a waiter about the wine.

“Thanks, Mom,” I replied, sliding into my seat. The table was set with more silverware than I knew what to do with, and the sparkling crystal glasses caught the light, reminding me of how much effort had gone into this night.

“We’re so glad you could make it. Mr. Salvador will be arriving any moment now,” she added, her voice barely containing her excitement.

My stomach twisted. “Right, of course. I wouldn’t miss it,” I said, though the lie tasted bitter.

Before I could settle into the conversation—or my nerves—my phone buzzed in my purse. I glanced down, and my heart skipped. It was the hospital.

Without a second thought, I excused myself, standing up so abruptly that I knocked my napkin off my lap. “I need to take this,” I muttered, already heading toward the entrance, leaving my parents behind without waiting for a response.

Once outside, I pressed the phone to my ear. “Dr. Alvarez.”

“Sydney? It’s Dr. Reyes,” came the voice on the other end, firm and quick. “We’ve got a situation here—a gunshot wound. The patient’s crashing, and we need all hands on deck. Can you come in?”

I could hear the chaos in the background—the beeping of monitors, the shuffle of feet. “I’m on my way,” I said without hesitation, already feeling the shift from reluctant dinner guest to doctor. This was my world, where decisions were clear, actions immediate.

Hanging up, I walked back into the restaurant, my mind racing as I approached the table. My mother looked up with expectation, her face faltering when she saw my expression.

“I’m sorry,” I began, trying to sound sincere despite the relief blooming in my chest. “There’s an emergency at the hospital. They need me.”

My father frowned slightly, but it was my mother who spoke. “Sydney, this dinner is—”

“I know, Mom, but I have to go. It’s critical.” I didn’t wait for her to argue, already backing away. “Please, give my apologies to Mr. Salvador when he arrives.”

Before she could respond, I turned on my heel and headed for the door, each step faster than the last. Outside, the cool night air hit me, and for the first time all evening, I could breathe.

Sliding into the driver’s seat of my car, I let out a long sigh. The hospital had been my escape, and tonight it was my lifeline. As I started the engine, the city lights stretched out before me, guiding me back to the one place I truly felt in control.

The hospital was only fifteen minutes away but as I drove, a strange sense of freedom began to settle over me For the first time in weeks, I wasn’t bound by someone else’s expectations. I wasn’t the daughter being groomed for the perfect match. I wasn’t the woman being introduced to a man who was supposed to be everything I needed.

I was just Sydney Alvarez—doctor, problem-solver, someone whose life was defined by the here and now, not by the future my family tried so hard to construct.

And for tonight, that was enough.