Page 11 of Christmas at Watson Memorial

Chapter 7

Alexia

“Here, looks like you need this more than I do,” Selene whispers, pressing a cup of strong coffee into my hands. The warmth seeps through my cold fingers, and the rich aroma fills my nostrils.

“I should have seen this coming, damn it,” I growl, slamming my fist against the table, achieving nothing but a sharp sting of pain.

“Stop that,” she snaps. “You can't predict everything.”

“Isn't that exactly what I'm supposed to do?” I protest. “It's my job.”

“You're also human, and last time I checked, that wasn't a crime, you know?”

Suddenly, her gaze shifts to the photograph next to my computer, and my blood runs cold.

“Is that you as a kid?” she asks, jutting her chin toward the frame.

“With my best friend from school. You're not the only one who's lost someone you loved right before Christmas,” I murmur.

“What happened to her?”

“Acute myeloid leukemia. The treatment worked at first, but it's aggressive. She died on December 25th. The doctors kept telling her family they were doing everything possible, but even now, I remember seeing the hopelessness in their eyes.”

“That must have been fucking rough,” Selene sighs.

“You know how it feels, I won't remind you how in those moments you wish you could die too. My mother was a prestigious doctor. Want to know what she told me after my friend's funeral?”

“No idea,” she breathes.

“She told me to take it as a lesson about the importance of maintaining emotional distance from patients. I was twelve, for fuck's sake, and my mother turned my best friend's death into a lesson about being a better doctor in the future,” I complain, turning away so she can't see the tears welling up in my eyes.

“Wow!”

“It hurt, but I guess deep down, my mother was right. Getting attached to one of your patients only makes it so much harder when…”

“When what?” Selene cuts in. “When you have to fight even harder for her? Because that's exactly what Holly needs you to do right now.”

“I guess so,” I admit with a sigh.

“Are we heading to Burlington for that heart?”

“We are,” I repeat, nodding slowly.

***

The helicopter's engines roar to life when I get the call I've been waiting for from hospital administration.

“Morning, Safira. Do you have the authorization?”

“I can barely hear you. Are you in the helicopter?” she asks, confusion evident in her voice.

“Yes.”

“Well, you better get down.”

“What? Have you lost your mind?”

“Not possible, Dr. Winters. I must implement emergency protocol and suspend all flights until further notice due to the storm. It's too dangerous,” she responds flatly.