Page 10 of Shadows of Recovery

Tristan raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. “The Corn Palace? Now I’m intrigued. Tell me more.”

“It’s exactly what it sounds like,” Sophie said, trying to keep a straight face. “A building decorated with corn. It’s a big deal. Not quite the Empire State Building, but it has its charm.”

“I’ll have to add it to my travel bucket list,” Tristan replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

They continued chatting, moving on to family. “I have four sisters,” Sophie shared. “Our house was always chaotic, like living in a real-life sitcom. I’m the smartest, so I got away with a lot.”

Tristan laughed. “Four sisters? I have a feeling they may disagree with you about who’s the smartest. I’ve got a brother and two sisters, all doctors. Family dinners are basically medical conferences.”

Sophie grinned. “So, what do you talk about at Thanksgiving? The latest in surgical techniques, or who makes the best stuffing?”

“A little of both, actually,” Tristan admitted, chuckling. “There’s always some debate over who inherited the better bedside manner. It’s all in good fun, though. Well, until someone brings up the time I nearly fainted during a dissection in med school.”

“Oh, I’ve got to hear that story.” Sophie leaned in with a playful smirk.

Tristan shook his head, mock groaning. “It’s a tale of bravery and embarrassment. Long story short, I wasn’t as tough as I thought during my first autopsy. Let’s just say I ended up on the wrong side of the examination table—flat on my back.”

Sophie burst out laughing. “I’m glad you didn’t stick with piloting then. Imagine if that had happened in a cockpit!”

“Right? ‘Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. I’ll be unconscious for the remainder of the flight, so buckle up!’” Tristan quipped, joining in her laughter.

They continued sharing stories, each one more ridiculous than the last, their connection deepening with each laugh and shared memory. The initial awkwardness of the evening was long gone, replaced by a genuine sense of camaraderie and growing affection.

As they left the restaurant, Tristan walked Sophie to her car. Under the soft glow of the streetlights, he looked into her hazel eyes, feeling a sense of peace. "Goodnight, Sophie," he said softly, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “I’d like to see you again. You don’t start at the hospital for another two weeks.”

"Goodnight, Tristan," she replied, her smile warm and genuine. "I’d like that.”

Five

In the two weeks before she started her time in the ER at Waverly County Hospital, Tristan introduced Sophie to the Blackwell Institute, a facility that would soon become familiar to her.

During this period, they shared several enjoyable dates, including dinners, museum visits, movie nights, and evenings spent watching TV, which often ended with her falling asleep against him. Despite her busy personal life, Sophie maintained a professional balance, working three shifts per week at Waverly Junction Community Hospital while also completing her orientation at Waverly County.

Three weeks later, the first shift for Sophie to operate without a preceptor in the emergency room at Waverly County Hospital was unlike anything she had experienced before. The weather outside was horrendous, with sleet and snow creating treacherous conditions. Inside, the ER was busy, filled with patients suffering from flu, chest pain, and a variety of other medical emergencies. On the trauma side, there were multiple car accidents and slip-and-falls, keeping everyone on their toes.

Sophie and her best friend, Jenna Cade, another ER physician, exchanged weary but determined smiles as they moved swiftly through the crowded ER. "We should be wearing roller skates to keep up with all this," Jenna joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Tell me about it," Sophie replied with a chuckle. "I think we should petition for skates in the next budget meeting."

Despite the overwhelming number of patients, the superior nursing staff helped them keep up with the influx. But their pace came to a screeching halt when the fire department brought in a sixteen-year-old victim of a car accident. He and four others had been driving back from lunch to high school when they slid on the icy road, crashed, and flipped the car. All of the teenagers were in critical condition, but the sixteen-year-old had snapped his neck and crushed his chest. He arrived in cardiac arrest.

Sophie worked on the young man with fierce determination, unwilling to give up even when the situation seemed hopeless. She performed CPR, intubated him, and administered drugs, all while a part of her knew it was too late. When she finally stopped, the loss pressed down on her. She knew she had to deliver the devastating news to his parents.

She found the parents in the waiting room, their faces pale and anxious. Taking a deep breath, she approached them. "Mr. and Mrs. Turner, I'm Dr. Everhart," she began gently. "I'm so sorry, but despite our best efforts, your son didn't survive the accident."

The father's face contorted with grief and disbelief. "No! No, that can't be! He was just going to lunch with his friends!" he cried out.

"I'm terribly sorry," Sophie said, her voice breaking. "We did everything we could."

The father's grief turned into rage. "You didn't do enough!" he shouted, his fist flying out before Sophie could react. The blow connected with her nose, blood erupting, and she stumbled backward, her head slamming into the wall. Pain exploded in her skull, and she felt a warm trickle of fluid as she collapsed to the floor.

Nurses screamed for help. Pandemonium erupted in the room. Security rushed in, restraining the distraught father. Jenna, witnessing the whole scene, immediately ran to Sophie, her face white with worry.

"Call in two more doctors and page Dr. Blackwell!" Jenna ordered the unit secretary. "Sophie, sweetie, stay with me. We're going to get you to the CT scanner."

Sophie nodded weakly, her vision blurred. She could hear the commotion around her, but all she could focus on was Jenna's voice.

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