I run into her again two rooms later.
This time, she’s standing outside the doorway, arms folded loosely, listening while another nurse finishes speaking. When she turns and sees me, she shifts seamlessly, stepping aside without prompting.
“Dr. Fisher,” she says.
“Anything I should know?” I ask.
“He’s more short of breath than yesterday,” she replies. “Vitals are stable, but it’s new.”
That gives me pause.
“How new?”
“Started overnight. Not severe, but noticeable.”
I nod. “I’ll take a look.”
She holds the door for me as I go in.
Inside, the assessment confirms what she said. Subtle but there. When I finish and step back out, she’s already waiting.
“I’ll order imaging,” I say.
“I’ll let him know what to expect,” she replies.
We move in opposite directions, but something sticks with me as I walk away. I don’t like how natural that felt. I don’t like how there was no pause, no awkwardness, no distance. It should be alarming, but I don’t have time to analyze something so silly.
By midday, I’ve stopped pretending it was all incidental.
She’s everywhere—not in a disruptive way, not in a way that draws attention. But present. Prepared. Steady.
She anticipates questions before I ask them.
She doesn’t volunteer unnecessary information, but when she speaks, it matters.
At one point, I start to ask about labs and realize she’s already pulled them up.
I stop myself from commenting. Praise invites conversation. Conversation invites familiarity. I don’t have room for that.
The only friction comes in the afternoon.
A family is anxious—understandably—and pressing for more information than I’m ready to give. I explain the plan carefully, clinically, keeping my voice neutral.
When I step out, Melissa is waiting.
“They’re scared,” she says quietly.
“I know,” I reply.
“They’re hearingwaitasnothing’s happening.”
I meet her gaze then—really look at her for the first time since this morning.
Her expression isn’t challenging. It’s measured. Observant.
“I’m not going to speculate,” I say.
“I wouldn’t ask you to,” she answers. “Thought you should know how it’s landing.”
