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Greta's rage escalates, and I reckon she didn't see it coming. She shoves me hard, and I find myself slamming against the guardrail of the bridge, which buckles under my weight. The water engulfs me almost instantly, dragging me downward. No matter how hard I struggle to swim to the surface, it's too late. The water is freezing, and I am reaching the limits of my strength. Even my scream is swallowed by the darkness that envelops me shortly after.
Chapter Eighteen
Dean
The shift in the OR feels like it stretches on forever, but I finally wrap it up successfully, saving one more life. As I exit the OR, I let out a sigh of relief and make a beeline for my office to update some paperwork. When I'm changed, I bolt from the locker room, ticking off the minutes till I can hit the road home.
“Hey Dean, how about some joe?” Oliver, a fresh-faced colleague I've recently befriended, calls out. “I could use your input,” he says, noting my hesitation. “I promise, just five minutes of your time.”
“No worries,” I clap him on the back as we amble down to the coffee shop, “What's on your mind?”
“Double espresso, black, and a sugar-free shot for my friend here.” He orders, fixing me with a look. “I got a proposition from Memorial out in LA.”
“Whoa, congrats!” I exclaim, surprised. Not that Oliver isn't a great shrink, but I didn't peg him for leaving the Big Apple.
“I haven't said yes yet,” he confesses as he collects our cups. “Thanks,” he nods at the barista and hands me my coffee. “It's a long way from home.”
“Well, it's the West Coast,” I chuckle, “Pretty ladies, gnarly waves, sunshine all year round.”
“You had me at 'pretty ladies',” he laughs before taking a sip of his coffee. “The offer came out of left field, but the salary and location are pretty enticing.”
“But?” I probe. “Got anything holding you here?”
He shakes his head. “Not sure.”
I chuckle, “How can you not know?” I question, amused. “Met anyone special?”
“Yeah, and she's a real sweetheart. But if I jet off to LA, I'll never know how it could have panned out.”
“No woman is worth giving up an opportunity like that. If it's meant to be, it'll happen.” I shrug. “Life's unpredictable, man.”
“Damn, you need to find a woman, Dean, you're too cynical.”
I drain my cup, “Already got the one,” I confess, grinning. And what a woman she is.
“Wait, what?” he gapes, “And you haven't introduced her to us? Jerk move!”
I chuckle, tossing my cup, “She'd be too much for you guys to handle,” I wink. “But back to you, there's nothing stopping you from trying a long-distance relationship, see how it pans out.”
“But do I know her?” he asks, curiosity piqued.
“If you're not sure whether you're dating her, how am I supposed to know?” I rib him.
Oliver grimaces. “Jerk, I meant your woman.”
“Maybe,” I begin, but am cut short by the sudden wail of sirens echoing through the hospital corridor.
“What's happening?” I inquire anxiously, observing hospital staff as they rush toward the incoming paramedics.
“I'm not sure...”
“Be careful,” Kyle bellows, his voice angry and strong, drowning out the surrounding chatter. I drop the bag I'm holding and head toward the chaos, and that's when I see her.
Miriana is laid out on a stretcher, still as a statue, her eyes shut tight. She's drenched from head to toe, a collar fastened around her neck, her lips tinged a scary shade of purple.
I sidestep a few nurses to snatch her medical chart. The paramedics rattle off the actions taken prior to her arrival, but my mind struggles to digest the information, so I just stare blankly at the details on the page.
“Thank God you're still here,” Kyle says, pulling me out of that dark cloud.
