Page 45 of Phoenix Rising

“I know,” Becky said, tears slipping down her cheeks. She wiped them away harshly. “But why do it by yourself when there is someone willing to help you?"

Josephine didn't respond. Becky heard a steady beep in her silence. Probably a heart monitor.

"It feels like everything is falling apart. It doesn't even seem like it affected her. I feel like she just threw me aside."

Josephine’s voice was soothing. “It’s normal to feel like that, especially after investing so muchemotionally. But remember, this isn’t a reflection of your worth or your ability to have a relationship. Sometimes people are just not in the right place to reciprocate what we’re offering.”

Becky nodded, even though Josephine couldn’t see her. “I keep thinking about all the good times we had, all the moments that seemed so perfect. And now it feels like a cruel joke. Like everything I believed in was just an illusion.”

Josephine’s voice was empathetic. “It’s okay to grieve what could have been. But try not to let this define you or your future. You have a lot of love to give, and the right person will come along when the time is right.”

“I just wish I knew what went wrong,” Becky said, her voice trembling. “I wish she had just said no from the start."

"Wishing doesn't do any good now, Becks. All you can do is heal and move on. I promise there is someone out there who is waiting for your love. I promise. You don’t have to go through this alone. You have friends who care about you, and you have your own strength. It’s okay to lean on others and take things one day at a time.”

Becky wiped her eyes with the back of herhand. “Thanks, Josephine. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

Josephine’s voice was warm and comforting. “I’m here for you, Becky. Anytime you need to talk or just need a distraction, you can call me."

Becky nodded. "Just do me a favor and don't tell Ember all the details. I don't really want her asking me about it."

"You got it. I'll take care of everything, don't worry. Okay, I do have to go, but text me if you need anything."

"I will, thanks." Becky sniffed.

When the call ended, Becky leaned her head against the steering wheel, feeling exhaustion overtake her. Her head and her heart ached. She looked up to see Lucinda walking out of the café, her face not reflecting any emotion. The coffee Becky had bought for her still sat untouched on the patio table.

And suddenly, all of the comfort Josephine had given her had been ripped away. She felt like a nobody. She was no one to Lucinda. Just a quick lay and undivided attention. Becky started her car, wondering if she would ever recover from Lucinda's wounds.

Fuck, she needed a drink.

12

LUCINDA

Dr. Everett pushed through the hospital's double doors, her crisp white coat trailing behind her. The main lobby buzzed with the usual chaos: patients, nurses, and doctors moving about with practiced efficiency. The noise and frenetic energy had become a familiar backdrop for Lucinda, but today, it felt strangely distant.

Her mind was elsewhere. It had been a week since her explosive breakup with Becky. The fire of their passion had burned hot and fast, consuming everything in its path before leaving her in the cold, empty aftermath. The confrontation at the café had left her reeling. Despite her usual abilityto compartmentalize, she lost herself in thinking about Becky more often than she cared to admit.

Lucinda had thrown herself into her work, hoping that drowning herself in her responsibilities would ease the pain. The adrenaline of emergency medicine was a welcome distraction, but it didn’t fully erase the sting of the breakup.

When she finally made it to her office, her assistant, Clara, stood, handing Lucinda a chart. "Thank goodness. There's an emergency in the ER. All hands on deck."

Lucinda frowned. Major emergencies were common, but Clara’s urgent voice made her stomach tighten. "When did they come in?"

"Ten minutes ago."

She quickly reviewed the patient details—multiple victims from a fire, including a firefighter. Lucinda inhaled sharply. It wasn't Becky or Ember, was it? Her heart raced as she made her way to the trauma bay.

The emergency room was abuzz with activity as Lucinda arrived. Several gurneys had been rolled in, each carrying a victim of the fire. The team was already hard at work, but Lucinda knew her presence would make a difference.

“Dr. Everett,” a nurse called out, hurrying to her side. “We’ve got three critically injured patients, including a firefighter with severe burns and smoke inhalation. The fire chief—Becky Thompson—is with them.”

Lucinda’s breath caught in her throat. The name echoed in her mind, and she struggled to keep her composure. At least Becky wasn't injured. But Lucinda hadn’t expected their paths to cross so soon, let alone under these circumstances. Her heart sank at the thought of seeing Becky in distress. The memory of her running into the med tent when Ember was injured passed through her mind.

Lucinda steeled herself and moved to the nearest trauma bay where the patients were being assessed. The firefighter, a young woman with severe burns on her arms and legs, was being stabilized by the team. Lucinda quickly took charge, issuing orders and assessing the severity of the injuries.

“Burns on forty percent of her body,” Lucinda noted, her voice steady. “We need to start with fluid resuscitation and pain management. Prepare for debridement and transfer to the burn unit.”

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