Chapter 2

"Vitals are unstable," they stated in response.

"All right, let's do our best," I said.

As with any potentially fatal injury, the first step in treating a patient with a puncture to the heart is to begin advanced life support procedures to stabilize the patient's condition.

The emergency crew had done their best, but the patient was too far gone to have a pulse.

"Assessing patient's vitals: the pulse is low, blood in lungs, barely breathing…" the new female doctor said.

The beauty of her voice was a bonus. I would have made her remove the mask immediately if it weren't for the rules against doing so.

I snatched the gloves onto my wrist and said, "Blade," as I prepared to do an emergency thoracotomy.

"Here," Catherine said and handed me a scalpel.

"I'm ready," the new doctor added.

With a confident nod, I went ahead.

An emergency thoracotomy is performed when the heart has been punctured. This involves cutting into the chest to reach the heart and repair the damage. Getting the surgery done swiftly was essential to preventing further difficulties or, perhaps, death. But the latter was imminent here.

We collaborated with the anesthesiologists, nurses, and other professionals involved in the treatment to give constant care and monitoring. To achieve the best possible outcome, we maintained regular assessments of the patient's condition and made any necessary adjustments to treatment.

But something needed to be doing the trick here.

He was slipping away from us.

"I knew he was going to die anyway. We should stop here."

I removed my mask and looked down at the body and my bloodied fingers.

A kind voice begged, "Please, don't die."

When I looked up, the female doctor continued the operation. Her movements were so assured despite the trembling in her hands.

Observing her work was like witnessing the work of a masseur... no, a magician.

She delved into his flesh, doing everything she could to bring him back to life.

"There is no hope for him, sir. We can stop here," Catherine said in a low tone. But I wasn't paying attention to her.

My mind was on the woman attempting to save the stranger's life.

"Sir?" Catherine called.

"We proceed," I said as I replaced the mask and continued the operation.

The new doctor's amazement at hearing this was palpable, and I could almost hear her gasp.

"Sir, but..." Catherine spoke.

"We're not done yet."

"All right, sir."

We all returned and struggled to keep the man from dying. But nothing we did could stop the blade of death, no matter how hard we tried.

The patient passed on moments later.

Catherine wondered, "Why did we continue?"

"I don't know," I said without looking at her. My eyes were on the other doctor.

She sat on the floor, rubbing her palms together.

Has none of her patients ever died before?

"The victim's family is here," Catherine said to me. "Do you intend to inform them?"

"You do it," I told her as I headed to the other doctor.

"You're behaving strange," Catherine remarked.

"I have no words to defend myself in that regard."

As I got to the new doctor, I noticed her blue eyes were sparkling, and she gazed up at me as though she were about to cry.

There was clearly a problem. My blood was pumping, but instead of wanting to consume her, I wanted to shield her from harm. But from what exactly?

I swiveled around and said to the rest of the team, "Leave us now."

They all replied, "Yes, sir."

They all appeared concerned as well. Her determination to save the patient's life, even though we all felt it was a losing cause, reaffirmed why we went into medicine.

I got down on one knee beside her as they left the operating room. "Are you okay?"

A hiccuping and shaky "I... I couldn't save him" escaped her lips. She was choking back sobs.

"None of us could, but we tried our best."

As the tears started to fall, she continued, "But... but it's my first operation here. I really did think I could save him. If I'd acted quicker, or if he'd arrived sooner..."

"It wouldn't have made any difference," I said.

She threw a hard stare at me, and I could see the rage in her eyes.

"Sorry if I came out as harsh, but you and I both went into this line of work with the understanding that we can't possibly help everyone."

She lowered her head and whispered, "I know... but still..."

This was the first time I'd ever seen another doctor, much less a stunningly attractive one, so distraught.

However, she made me remember how I felt when I lost my first patient to a similar case many years ago. I was furious with myself for failing to save the life of a dying patient.

I put my arms on her shoulders and gave her a light shake. "You have to take it easy on yourself," I said.

"You're just saying that because you're already used to this." She turned her head away.

I cupped her face and said, "Look at me."

Her expression brightened up a bit. Her pupils enlarged as she examined me, and her lips parted slightly. I couldn't help myself anymore... I leaned closer, and she didn't seem to mind or try to pull away. As her eyelids closed, I could feel her breathing slow down.

I kissed her... Her sweet, tender lips were the best I had ever tasted.

"What is this?" I pondered. "Why does she feel different from the other girls? Why do I desire more when I hardly even know her?"

I didn't even know her name at that point.

My left hand extended to the side of her face and tucked her hair behind her right ear. She had the tiniest, softest ears. Her femininity belied a hidden strength. I interpreted her lips parted ever so little as a welcome gesture.

She clenched her jaw shut when I inserted my tongue into her mouth.

I recoiled in pain and covered my lips, peering at her in disbelief.

Her face and ears were flushed with color. Her blue eyes flashed wrathfully, and she covered her mouth with her palm.