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.”

Emily nodded, keeping her hands steady as she grabbed the necessary tools when asked. Every move felt like it was under a microscope, but she was ready. She would prove herself. She had to.

Liam, however, seemed to move with effortless precision. His hands were steady, his focus razor-sharp. When Dr. Reynolds asked him to assist with the grafting, Emily felt a small pang of frustration. Why did it always feel like Liam got the praise?

But she pushed the thought aside. This was not about him. This was about her.

---

After the surgery, Emily and Liam were tasked with taking patient histories for their rounds. This part of the day was often less glamorous, but it was essential to understand the full picture of patient care. Emily listened intently as Dr. Reynolds guided them through the steps of conducting an interview, asking about family medical history, symptoms, lifestyle factors, and more.

Liam, as always, was quick to pick up on the nuances of the conversation, smiling and nodding as he made the patient feel at ease.

Emily, however, couldn’t help but feel awkward. She was good with people—at least, she thought she was—but something about the patients here at Johns Hopkins felt different. Their illnesses were more complex, their histories more layered. It was intimidating, and every mistake felt like a mark against her.

When it was her turn to ask questions, her voice shook slightly as she introduced herself to the patient. “I’m Emily. I’ll be working with Dr. Reynolds today. Can you tell me a bit about how you’ve been feeling?”

The patient, an elderly woman, looked at her with kind eyes. “I’ve been feeling fine, dear. I'm just tired all the time, and my chest hurts now and then. But the doctors tell me I’m fine, so I try not to worry.”

Emily smiled, trying to steady her nerves. But Liam stepped in, his voice smooth and confident as he picked up the conversation. “We just need to ask a few more questions to make sure we understand your symptoms fully,” he said, guiding the conversation with ease.

Emily bit her lip, frustrated with herself. Liam had this way of making everything seem effortless, and it grated on her. She tried to keep up, but it was hard when he was always one step ahead.

---

It wasn’t until later that afternoon when Emily was asked to assist with prepping a patient for an angiogram, that she finally had a moment of clarity.

The procedure was more technical than she had expected, but she had been studying the process in her spare time, and today, all her preparations came together.

As she handed over the instruments with a steady hand, Dr. Reynolds nodded in approval. “You’ve done your homework, Emily. Keep it up.”

It was a small victory, but it was enough to remind her that she wasn’t just there to prove herself to others—she was there because she belonged.

But as the day ended, and the students gathered for a quick debrief in the hospital lounge, the tension between her and Liam was palpable. He walked over to where Emily was sitting, his face unreadable.

“You did alright today,” he said, his voice oddly neutral.

Emily looked up at him, surprised by the lack of his usual cocky attitude. “Thanks. You weren’t so bad yourself.”

He chuckled a short, dismissive sound. “Don’t get used to it, Carter. I don’t play nice for long.”

She raised an eyebrow, the competitive fire in her eyes flaring up once more. “We’ll see about that, Grant.”

---

As Emily headed back to the dormitory later that evening, her thoughts were swirling. There was a part of her that couldn’t stand Liam, his effortless charm and apparent superiority. But another part of her was drawn to him, to the challenge he presented.

Liam, on the other hand, couldn’t help but notice the way Emily’s eyes flared with determination. There was something about her, something that made him want to push her even harder, to see just how far she would go. She wasn’t like the others. And maybe that was exactly what made her so interesting.

As they each lay in their beds that night, the rivalry between them continued to simmer, and it was clear that neither of them was ready to back down. They were only getting started.