Hopelessly Strong

**Chapter 3**

So what does one do when they've been burned?

They stay away from fire entirely.

My family kept me sane. My two neices, Evelyn and Lillian, were my joy. They were only 3 and 5, but they took my heart back to a simpler time. They were so innocent. Unconditional love.

So it hurt me to move from Luke's home into the city. But I was tiring of my position at the hospital and yearned to be more.

So, I went to medical school.

I may be an idiot, but I'm not stupid.

If I was going to stay away from the fire of long-term commitment, I needed to support myself.

In my first year of residency I had excelled to the head of my class. I was asked to mentor the other resident physicians and did so with pride. I put my whole heart into the miracles that happened at that hospital. I had no heart left to put into anything else.

I had casual sex. Flings. Friends with benefits. But before you judge, know that they were all on my terms. They ended when I felt it getting too comfortable. Not that it justified my actions, it was just my attempt to stay happy and unattached. My way of avoiding the flame.

I enjoyed the blood and gore of the ER, as sick as that is. But that only led me to work passionately to save those who needed it. My skill was to be disconnected from the scenes that laid before my eyes. I was to scrub up and enter the OR with the attending surgeon and help when he needed it.

Oh, how lonely it sounds. For me, it wad a refuge. It was my adrenaline high. It was my drug of choice.

But then, I met Evan.

As a new resident, he was the talk of the ER. Who could blame the nurses who aimlessly threw themselves into his arms. He was breath taking.

Tall, dark, handsome, and mysterious. I knew enough to stay away from this flame, predicting it would burn me to the ground.

So I ignored him. When the chief of staff asked me to guide him around the hospital, I suggested someone else. When he asked me to quiz him on his knowledge of the cardiovascular system, I sent him to Dr. Reed, the resident cardiologist. I pushed him into every corner that was completely opposite of me.

But he never gave up.

Persistent lady's man, he just couldn't leave it at that.

I can't say that I blame him. With my small figure and ample chest, I knew the longing looks that I got. I didn't flaunt my endowments, but I sure as hell wasn't about to dress like a nun to avoid attention. Maybe that's why I was rarely asked to assist in post heart attack cardiac workups. Or maybe because labor and delivery was my calling. Who knows. Either way, Evan didn't back off.

If I didn't work with him nearly every shift, I could see us having a fun few weeks. But work was almost entirely taking up my free time. And with what little free time I gad, I spent it in the country with my family.

But, he was my co-worker. And his presence screamed heartache, though he barely said a word. Only during our lunch breaks did he approach me. I should have made an effort to gain more friends at work so that the seat beside me wasn't always open for unwanted advancements.

"Hello Gorgeous", he said.

"Hello Dr. Clarke", I answered.

"You make this so difficult for yourself, you know. All I am asking is for one date, maybe dinner and a movie. That's all."

"We both know that's not all you're asking, is it Evan?"

His eyes met mine. "We could see where that takes us.", he chuckled.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I've been so busy recently and I don't see my schedule opening up any time soon. Sorry.", I answered. It was just as I had rehearsed in the mirror that morning. It was hard coming up with excuses that didn't make things more awkward than they already were.

"Well, I'd you change your mind. You know where to find me.", he said before walking away. But he quickly shot me a wink over his shoulder.

I was flustered, and I was angry with myself. Why did he have to make my heart race like that?

My deep thought was cut short when my phone began to vibrate in my pocket. The number was unknown, but I answered it anyway.

"Hello?", I said calmly.

Silence.....

"Hellllo?!?," I said this again in a more childish tone than I had wanted to.

"L...L..Leanne?", the voice answered shakily.

"This is she. Who is this?"

"Tyler", he said quietly.

I dropped the phone.

***Tyler------------------------------------------------>