Incision of the Heart

Chapter 9: Sparks in Surgery

The next morning, Emily arrived at the hospital earlier than usual, determined to leave no stone unturned for the day’s shadowing session.

She had stayed up late refining their case study notes and couldn’t wait to present them to Dr. Patel.

Liam, however, was already waiting in the residents’ lounge, leaning casually against a counter with his ever-present air of confidence.

“Morning, Carter,” he said, sipping his coffee. “Ready to dazzle the team with our brilliance?”

“Our brilliance?” she quipped, dropping her bag onto a nearby chair. “If by ‘our brilliance,’ you mean my organization and your flair for chaos, then sure.”

Liam smirked but didn’t retort, instead gesturing toward the clock. “You’re cutting it close. Dr. Patel hates tardiness.”

Emily checked the time and frowned. He was right. “Let’s go,” she said, brushing past him.

---

Today’s case was a complex coronary artery bypass, led by Dr. Patel with Dr. Lopez, a senior resident.

The premeds had been invited to observe the procedure, a rare opportunity that heightened the tension in the room.

Emily and Liam stood side by side in the observation gallery, their eyes glued to the operating table below.

The sterile environment, the precise movements of the surgical team, and the rhythmic beeping of monitors created an almost hypnotic atmosphere.

“Look at that technique,” Liam whispered, leaning slightly closer to Emily. “Patel’s suturing is practically art.”

Emily nodded, equally captivated. “It’s incredible how calm they all are. One wrong move…”

“...and it’s game over,” Liam finished.

Their usual banter was replaced by a shared sense of awe. For a moment, they weren’t rivals but two aspiring doctors united by their passion for medicine.

---

After the surgery, Dr. Patel called the premeds into a conference room.

Her sharp gaze swept over them, lingering briefly on Emily and Liam.

“Today’s procedure involved unique challenges,” she began. “Let’s see how well you understood them. Carter, Grant, you’re up first.”

Emily’s stomach tightened.

She glanced at Liam, who appeared unfazed, his usual smirk firmly in place.

Dr. Patel handed them a diagram of the heart with a list of surgical steps. “Identify the key challenges of this bypass and propose alternative strategies for a hypothetical complication involving the left anterior descending artery.”

Emily stepped forward immediately, pointing to the diagram. “The patient had significant calcification in the LAD, which increased the risk of perforation during grafting. An alternative strategy could involve…”

She paused, realizing Liam was giving her a look. “What?” she hissed under her breath.

“You’re missing the part about myocardial protection,” he whispered.

Her eyes widened slightly as she caught her oversight. “Right,” she continued smoothly. “In addition to careful grafting, ensuring adequate myocardial protection during the procedure would be critical to preventing ischemic injury.”

Dr. Patel nodded, her expression unreadable. “Good. Grant, anything to add?”

“Carter covered the basics,” Liam said with a shrug, “but I’d also suggest considering a retrograde cardioplegia delivery if the antegrade approach wasn’t feasible due to calcification.”

Emily’s lips pressed into a thin line.

Of course, he had to one-up her.

---

After the session, Emily confronted Liam in the hallway.

“You couldn’t resist, could you?” she snapped.

Liam raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”

“Adding that cardioplegia comment,” she said. “You just had to show off.”

“Carter,” he said, folding his arms, “it wasn’t about showing off. It was about giving the best answer. You’re the one who almost forgot myocardial protection.”

She bristled but couldn’t deny he had a point.

“Look,” he continued, his tone softening, “we’re a team on this case study. If one of us looks bad, we both look bad. So maybe stop assuming the worst about me.”

Emily blinked, caught off guard by his candor. “Fine,” she said reluctantly. “But don’t expect me to let my guard down.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Liam replied with a grin.

---

Later that evening, Emily found herself in the hospital cafeteria, nursing a cup of tea while reviewing notes.

She was startled when Liam appeared, tray in hand, and sat across from her.

“Mind if I join you?” he asked.

She hesitated, then nodded. “Sure.”

For a while, they ate in silence.

Finally, Liam spoke. “You’re good, you know. At this. Medicine, I mean.”

Emily looked up, surprised. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, his gaze steady. “But you don’t have to prove it every second of the day. You’ve already earned your spot here.”

She stared at him, unsure how to respond. For all their rivalry, there was something genuine in his words that disarmed her usual defenses.

“Why are you being nice to me?” she asked cautiously.

Liam shrugged, his smirk returning. “Maybe I’m tired of fighting. Or maybe I just like keeping you on your toes.”

Emily rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips.