Incision of the Heart

Chapter 15: Walls Crumbling

The next day arrived with an eerie calmness that Emily hadn’t expected.

The early hours of the morning were often the quietest in a hospital, but today it felt different.

She walked through the hospital halls, the usual hum of activity now muffled, as though the building itself was holding its breath.

She had barely slept the night before, her mind replaying the events of the previous evening.

The high tension in the cath lab, the coordinated chaos that ended with the patient stabilized, and—perhaps more than anything—the unexpected bond she had shared with Liam.

For the first time, they had truly worked together as a team, not just as academic rivals, but as equals, each recognizing the other's strengths.

But that small breakthrough hadn’t gone unnoticed, and it unsettled Emily. She had spent so long keeping her walls up, maintaining her distance from Liam, from everyone. To let him in, even just a little, was dangerous.

“Hey, Emily!”

She turned to see Sophia approaching, her face flushed with excitement.

“You’re up early,” Emily remarked, raising an eyebrow.

Sophia grinned. “Couldn’t sleep. You’re not the only one struggling with the night shift blues.” She glanced around as if to make sure no one could hear them. “But seriously, are you and Liam finally calling a truce, or is this some temporary ceasefire before World War III breaks out again?”

Emily paused, uncertain how to answer. She didn’t want to think about it, but the question had been on her mind all morning. Had things truly changed between her and Liam? Was this a passing phase, or was there more to it?

“Maybe,” Emily replied, trying to keep her tone casual. “He’s not that bad to work with.”

Sophia snorted. “Really? You? Saying that about Liam?”

Emily glared playfully. “Don’t make too much of it.”

Sophia leaned in, lowering her voice. “So, when do I get to hear all the juicy details? You two locked in a passionate embrace yet?”

Emily nearly choked on her coffee, her face flushing bright red. “Sophia! That’s—no.”

Sophia winked. “Fine, fine. I’ll just keep my eyes peeled, then.”

Before Emily could respond, Sophia waved and walked off, her teasing expression lingering in Emily’s mind.

It was ridiculous, of course—nothing had happened between her and Liam.

They were still competitors, still too driven by their egos to cross that line.

Yet, the mere suggestion of something beyond rivalry caused her stomach to tighten.

---

As the morning went on, the premed group gathered in the conference room for rounds.

Dr. Patel was back, her usual commanding presence cutting through the room like a blade.

"Today’s case is a complex one," Dr. Patel began, flipping open a folder. "We have a young woman in her mid-thirties, post-op day five from a heart transplant. She’s been doing well, but suddenly her blood pressure is dropping, and her oxygen saturation levels are fluctuating."

Emily felt her stomach churn.

She could already see the writing on the wall—this was going to be a difficult case. The kind of case that demanded precision, teamwork, and quick thinking.

Liam met her gaze briefly, their eyes locking in shared understanding. Both of them knew that the stakes were higher than ever.

As the team began to formulate a plan, Emily’s thoughts kept drifting.

The patient, this transplant recipient, was now in danger of rejection, and if her condition worsened, there would be no time for second chances.

Emily felt the weight of the responsibility that came with shadowing a team of such seasoned professionals. The decision-making would fall to them, and all they had to offer were their observations.

“What’s your assessment, Emily?” Dr. Patel’s voice cut through her thoughts, and for a moment, Emily couldn’t remember where she was.

She blinked, then quickly composed herself. “The patient may be experiencing acute rejection,” she said. “Her oxygen levels and fluctuating blood pressure could be a sign that the immune system is attacking the graft. We should consider increasing the immunosuppressive therapy and monitor her renal function closely, as nephrotoxicity is a common side effect.”

Liam’s voice joined in, steady and measured. “If it’s rejection, we’ll need to act quickly to prevent irreversible damage to the graft. I’d also suggest we start an echo to assess for any early signs of graft dysfunction.”

Dr. Patel nodded. “Good. Let’s move forward with that. Emily, Liam, you’ll be in charge of monitoring the labs and keeping an eye on the patient’s vital signs. We don’t have much time.”

---

Hours passed, and the tension in the hospital only seemed to increase.

Emily and Liam worked side by side, more in sync than they had been since the start of the rotation.

Emily couldn’t help but notice how easily they slipped into a rhythm, responding to the situation almost instinctively.

It was a strange feeling, almost unsettling.

They were no longer just rivals.

They were a team.

After hours of monitoring, the team finally had an answer: acute graft rejection.

The patient was transferred to the ICU for more intensive care, and the room quieted as the team began to debrief.

Liam looked at Emily, his expression thoughtful. “You did well today,” he said, his tone lacking the usual sarcasm.

Emily, startled by his praise, gave him a cautious smile. “Thanks. You, too.”

For a moment, they simply stared at each other, neither of them saying anything.

There was an unspoken acknowledgment between them—something that neither had been willing to admit until now.

Just as the silence grew heavier, Dr. Patel entered the room, breaking the moment. “Excellent work, everyone. I’m impressed with how quickly you handled that case. Emily, Liam, I’ll expect you both to take the lead tomorrow with the new patient case.”

Emily’s heart skipped a beat. Taking the lead? It was a daunting thought, but also... invigorating.

---

Later that evening, Emily stood in front of the hospital’s entrance, her mind still racing from the day’s events.

She hadn’t expected things to move so quickly, to shift in the way they had.

But here she was, standing just inches away from Liam, her academic rival and now, unexpectedly, her equal.

“So, about earlier,” Liam said, breaking the silence. “You did well. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this focused before.”

Emily shrugged, her gaze softening as she looked at him. “I’m just doing what I’m here to do.” She hesitated, then added, “Thanks for having my back today. It... it means more than I thought it would.”

Liam met her eyes, his expression soft but guarded. “You’re welcome.” There was a brief pause, then, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Emily.”

As he turned to leave, Emily felt a pang in her chest. It was like the walls she had so carefully built around herself were slowly, inch by inch, beginning to crumble.