Page 10 of Dr. Intern

Mom sighs, pain evident on her face. “If I could redo anything, it would be to let you know, every day, just how proud I am of you.”

“But, I’m not a doctor,” I murmur, looking down at my hands.

Despite my interest in medicine, I chose a different path, eager to shape my own identity. It was the only thing I felt like I could control at the time, and I guess I thought that working in healthcare meant pretending to be someone I wasn’t for the rest of my life.

“And thank god for that!” Mom replies with a warm chuckle. “Because your talents would be wasted.”

Her words coax a small laugh from me, though I still can’t bring myself to look at her.

“You breathe life into our family, my darling. Without you, our memories together would be far more dull. Your siblings appreciate your unique impact too, trust me.”

I huff skeptically. “Yeah, well they sure don’t let me know that.”

“One day they will,” she assures me. “Promise me something, Claire?”

I finally meet her eyes. “Anything.”

“Don’t try to be like them. Embrace who you are and always remember that I love this version of you. You are my greatest blessing.”

A single tear falls down my face. Her words mean more to me than I can even explain, and I’ll hold them in my heart forever. “I promise.”

“Good, and one final thing before we turn into blubbering messes.”

“Yes?” I ask, wiping away the salty water from my cheek.

“One day the right man will love you just the way you are. That ex-boyfriend of yours was all wrong.”

I sigh dramatically. “Just because he asked me to move to New York with him? I honestly should have done it. It’s such a great city.”

“No, Claire,” she shakes her head. “It’s because he gave you an ultimatum to either move with him or break up completely. That’s not how love works.”

She’s right on this one, of course, but I was trying to inject a little levity into the conversation.

My ex-boyfriend, Thomas, was perfect on paper; a southern gentleman who came from a similar upbringing as me. We dated through college, and I genuinely thought he would be the person I married. I pictured a future with him that was just like the one I always imagined as a girl—comfortable and filled with anything I could ever want or need . . . except a voice.

And the funny thing is, it’s not even his fault for being surprised when one day I finally found mine.

In hindsight, it was a relationship defined more by expectations and limitations than by genuine love and acceptance. I always wore a practiced mask with him. The same one I was so comfortable with from years of being told that’s who I needed to be.

I played the role of the perfect woman and called it love. In truth, I don’t know what it was . . . but it wasn’t real love.

Love shouldn’t require you to diminish yourself with the hope that you’ll be tolerated.

“Yeah that was pretty fucked up, wasn’t it?” I offer, finally able to smile about it after a year. “Though, I can be a little much.”

“When the right man comes along, he won’t see it that way, my dear,” she reassures me. “He’ll embrace all that you are and make your light shine even brighter than it already does. He won’t see you as a burden, he’ll see you as a gift.”

I dramatically slide down the couch, falling in a heap on the fur rug. “Am I the prettiest gift you’ve ever seen?” I joke, contorting my face into the silliest expression I can muster.

I’ve had enough sentimental conversations for a lifetime. This is the most heartfelt discussion my mom and I have ever had, and while I value it deeply, I’m emotionally drained.

Mom laughs, pure joy radiating from her face as Helen comes out from around the corner. “Alright, ladies, are you ready to see our beautiful bride?”

I sit up and crawl over to my mom’s chair, settling at her feet as we wait for Cassidy to come out.

A few moments later she emerges from behind the curtain, and my breath catches in my throat—she looks absolutely stunning. The dress Cass is wearing has long sleeves and a fitted bodice that hugs her curves in all the right places. The fabric at her hips flares out gently, creating an elegant and timeless look.

I can’t help the words that come out of my mouth. “Shut up, that dress was made for you.”