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Despite my feelings, I’ve done nothing other than sneak a few longing glances now and then. I have been completely professional around her. I’ve only spoken to her in class. We haven’t remotely acknowledged what happened between us since the first day of class in my office.
“Yes, very good Ms. Lawrence. It’s the exact same injury that he suffered when he fell from his horse. Do you know what happened to him, Ms. Lawrence?”
“As I understand it, he was left a quadriplegic and died about ten years later due to the toll of the injuries on his body.”
I nod. “That’s correct. Excellent. As for Phillip, his EMTs were very smart, and very quick-acting. They cooled and provided oxygen directly to the injured area, and they administered steroids to relieve the swelling and inflammation on the way to the hospital.”
“Phillip arrived at my hospital within twenty minutes of the injury and was in my O.R. fifteen minutes later. We worked extremely quickly to fuse the vertebrae and relieve the pressure around the spinal cord. Today, Phillip is walking. Though his football career is over, he’s able to otherwise live a very normal life.”
I continue, “It’s my belief that it was the combination of the competent EMTs and our quick-moving surgical team.” I show them all a recent photo of Phillip, as humanizing these cases is especially important for medical students.
“I have two assignments for all of you. First, I am handing out the file of a woman who had a surfing accident. I’ve removed her name for her privacy but make no mistake that this is the real file, of a real patient. I’d like you to review it and let me know if the doctors did all they could to prevent her paralysis. I want a short write-up in explanation sent to me one week from today.”
They all seem to understand the assignment. “Second, I want you all to spend the next week in the lab working on both your spinal fusion technique,andthe efficiency of that technique. You can use class time. We learned in the case of Phillip that the speed at which we fused the vertebrae was the difference in Phillip walking or spending his life in a wheelchair unable to move anything from his neck down. But please understand that I would never want you to value speed over quality of care. I suggest you work on the technique first, without concern for speed, and then work your way up to completing the procedure more and more efficiently.”
The students look excited to get into the lab.
“At the end of the week, we will all gather, and the person with the most preciseandefficient performance will receive some sort of reward.”
Of course, the class starts buzzing about extra credit. I roll my eyes. “Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions. I look forward to seeing you all in the lab. Class is dismissed.”
Harley comes up to my desk after class. “Professor Cooper, would it be possible to get ahold of Phillip’s surgical notes to compare to your surfer?” That makes a lot of sense.
“Of course, Ms. Lawrence. I will email them to you this evening.”
“Thank you.” She smiles and leaves. I can’t help but watch her walk up the stairs and out of the class. There’s just something about her that I can’t let go of.
A clearing throat brings me out of my Harley trance. I see Greg Waters standing there. “Can’t keep your eyes off of her, can you?”
I give him a confused face. “I’m sorry?”
“Harley Lawrence. You were just looking at her ass the whole way up those stairs.” I wasn’t staring at her ass. It’s all of her that intoxicates me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Ms. Lawrence simply asked for the surgical notes on a case file that we discussed in class today.”
He gives me an arrogant smile. “Don’t worry, Brody. I get it. Believe me, I get it. She’s one hot piece of ass.” He wiggles his eyebrows up and down. “The things I could do to that ass.” He smiles suggestively. I want to punch him in the face.
I don’t give him the satisfaction of a returning smile. “Greg, she’s the smartest person in the class. She’s going to be an incredible doctor. That’s what I see when I look at her.”
He scoffs at me. “I call bullshit. You’re a human man after all. We’re both smart enough to know what’s lying underneath those baggy clothes she wears.” He looks around to make sure no one else is around. “You know, she’s totally obsessed with her grades. You could probably get her to do just about anything for an A in your class.”
“Greg, there’s no need to disrespect her. I think she’s more than earned our respect. In my experience to date, she’s not obsessed with grades so much as wanting to learn. She’s a sponge, hungry for information. I would never attempt to put her in a compromising position. In part because she appears to be an honorable woman, and in part, because I’m not a harassing asshole. Additionally, she doesn’t need help in the grades department. She earns straight A’s based on actual merit.”
“I think there’s an opportunity there. You may be missing out.” He shrugs his shoulders. “Want to grab lunch?”
“No.”
* * *
Three days later,I’m in my office at the school finishing some paperwork. It’s nighttime and I don’t think there are any students still around. I walk by the lab door and notice that the light is on. That’s odd.
I peek in and see Harley hard at work, concentrating, oblivious to the outside world. She doesn’t see me yet, focused on the task at hand. I can’t take my eyes off of her. It’s not just her distinct beauty. It’s watching her work. The obvious passion she has for what she’s doing. She stirs something in me that no one else ever has.
I know I shouldn’t, but I walk inside the lab. I find myself wanting to interact with her, even if just professionally. “Ms. Lawrence, how’s it going?”
She looks up in surprise that anyone else is in the building. “Oh, hey Dr. Cooper. Everything’s fine. I’m just problem solving here.”
“Is there anything I can help with?”
