Incision of the Heart

Chapter 14: Cracks in the Wall

The early morning sunlight filtered through the tall hospital windows as Emily arrived at the cardiothoracic unit.

The memory of last night’s Code Blue lingered in her mind like a shadow.

It wasn’t the first time she’d seen a patient crash, but the helplessness she felt still gnawed at her.

The unit buzzed with the usual activity—nurses charting, residents prepping for rounds, and the occasional hum of a ventilator.

Emily found solace in the routine, though her thoughts were far from orderly. Liam’s unexpected kindness yesterday still unsettled her.

Sophia’s voice broke her reverie.
“Morning, Emily! You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Emily gave her friend a weak smile. “Rough night. How are things looking today?”

Sophia’s grin widened. “You mean, aside from Dr. Patel tearing into the residents about yesterday’s near-miss? I’d say we’re off to a thrilling start.”

Before Emily could respond, Liam appeared, clipboard in hand, his gaze scanning the room. He caught her eye and nodded. The gesture was simple, almost imperceptible, but it sent an odd flutter through her chest.

---

The pre-med group gathered in the conference room, their chairs arranged in a loose semi-circle.

Today, they were tasked with presenting detailed case studies to Dr. Patel and a few senior residents. It was an opportunity to impress—or humiliate themselves.

Emily and Liam had worked late into the night on their presentation, dividing responsibilities to make the most of their collaboration.

Despite her initial reluctance, she had to admit their teamwork was surprisingly effective.

Dr. Patel entered the room, her sharp eyes surveying the group. “Let’s begin. Emily, Liam, you’re up.”

Emily stood, her pulse quickening as she launched into the presentation.

She outlined Mr. Guerrero’s preoperative history, the surgical procedure, and his postoperative complications with precision.

When she handed it off to Liam, he picked up seamlessly, delving into the pharmacological interventions and the adjustments made during the emergency.

As they finished, Dr. Patel leaned back in her chair, her expression unreadable. “A thorough analysis. Well done.”

Emily let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

But then, one of the senior residents chimed in, his tone skeptical. “You mentioned altering the heparin dose during the procedure. Can you explain why that decision was made?”

Emily’s mind raced, but before she could answer, Liam stepped in. “The patient’s intraoperative clotting factors were borderline abnormal. Adjusting the dose minimized the risk of excessive bleeding while maintaining anticoagulation efficacy.”

The resident nodded, seemingly satisfied, and Dr. Patel moved on to the next group.

As they returned to their seats, Emily whispered, “Thanks for stepping in.”

Liam shrugged, his expression nonchalant. “We’re a team, right?”

---

That evening, Emily found herself in the hospital lounge, nursing a cup of lukewarm coffee.

She was drained, both physically and emotionally. To her surprise, Liam walked in, two steaming cups in hand.

He offered one to her without a word, then sank into the chair opposite hers.

“Coffee truce?” he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Emily chuckled despite herself. “I’ll take it.”

For a moment, they sat in silence, the hum of the vending machines the only sound. Then Liam spoke, his tone uncharacteristically soft.

“You handled yourself well today. In the presentation and with Mr. Guerrero.”

Emily looked at him, caught off guard. “Thanks. You weren’t so bad yourself.”

He smirked. “High praise coming from you.”

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling.

---

Their moment of tentative peace was interrupted by a loud commotion in the hallway. Both jumped to their feet, abandoning their coffee as they rushed to investigate.

A group of nurses was clustered outside one of the patient rooms.

Inside, a young man in his early twenties was thrashing on the bed, his face pale and drenched in sweat.

“Severe chest pain and shortness of breath,” one of the nurses explained. “He’s post-op day three from a valve replacement.”

Dr. Patel arrived moments later, her expression grave. “Get him to the cath lab, stat.”

Emily and Liam watched as the team wheeled the patient away, the tension in the air palpable.

“What do you think it is?” Liam asked, his brow furrowed.

“Maybe a thrombus or tamponade,” Emily said. “Either way, it’s bad.”

They lingered in the hallway, the gravity of the situation pulling them together in a way that felt strangely natural.

---

Hours later, the patient was stabilized, and Dr. Patel debriefed the group.

Emily and Liam listened intently, absorbing every detail.

As they left the unit, Liam broke the silence. “You know, for all the stress and sleepless nights, this is why we’re here. To see moments like that—when the team comes together to save someone.”

Emily nodded, her usual defenses lowered. “Yeah. It makes everything else feel...worth it.”

He looked at her, his gaze steady. “You’re not as cold-hearted as you pretend to be.”

She smirked, the tension easing. “And you’re not as arrogant as you let on.”

They walked out of the hospital together, the city lights glinting in the distance.

For the first time, Emily felt like they weren’t just rivals or reluctant teammates. They were something more—though what, she wasn’t ready to name.