Incision of the Heart ✓

Chapter 2: The Competition Heats Up

The hospital halls were filled with the constant hum of activity-nurses hurrying from one room to the next, doctors discussing cases in urgent tones, and the sound of wheels from gurneys as patients were transported to different departments.

Emily stood just outside the elevator, her heart racing as she prepared for another long day of shadowing at Johns Hopkins.

The adrenaline of the previous day's surgery still lingered in her veins, but she knew today would be even more challenging.

Liam was already standing at the nurse's station, chatting with Dr. Reynolds, who was reviewing patient charts.

His confident, easy demeanor made it seem as though he had been there for years.

Emily felt the stir of irritation in her chest as she watched him.

She had never been one to shy away from competition, but something about Liam's natural ease rubbed her the wrong way.

It was as if everything was handed to him on a silver platter, while she had to work twice as hard to prove herself.

"Emily!" Liam called out, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his mouth when he saw her approach. "Just in time to be part of today's surgery. Dr. Reynolds was just telling me about the case we're observing-open-heart, right in the OR. It's going to be intense."

Her jaw tightened, and she forced a smile. "I'm sure it will be."

Dr. Reynolds looked up from his chart, raising an eyebrow. "You two ready? We've got a packed day ahead of us. There's more than just surgery to learn today. We've got patient histories, rounds with the attendings, and then prepping for the next big procedure."

Emily nodded, trying to suppress the tightness in her chest.

It was hard enough to stay focused with Liam acting as though he already owned the place.

But she wasn't going to let him get the best of her.

---

The operating room was a world of its own.

Bright fluorescent lights cast sharp shadows against the gleaming stainless-steel instruments, and the smell of antiseptic filled the air.

Emily's stomach fluttered with nervous excitement.

Today's procedure was an intricate one-bypass surgery, a high-stakes operation with the potential to save a life.

As she scrubbed in, her mind ran through everything she had learned over the years.

She had watched surgeries online, attended conferences, and read textbooks, but standing at the sterile threshold of the OR was different.

This was real.

This was happening.

The pressure to be perfectly gnawed at her as she stepped forward.

Liam, of course, was standing right next to her, his expression unreadable as he set up the surgical tools.

His calmness was unnerving.

How could someone be so... unbothered?

But Emily was determined to focus on the task at hand.

Dr. Reynolds stepped forward, explaining the procedure to the group. "This patient is a middle-aged man who's been struggling with severe coronary artery disease. We'll be grafting new vessels to bypass the blocked arteries. This is a delicate procedure, and I expect full attention from everyone in the room. We can't afford mistakes."