Pulse, Passion and Doctors: A Medical Romance

By Eliza Heights

In the fast-paced world of St. Mary's Hospital, renowned surgeon Dr. Emily Blake and charismatic cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Ethan Rodriguez cross paths, igniting a rollercoaster of emotions. Emily, dedicated to her career, never thought she'd find love, while Etha

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stable House Publishing
• Release date: Aug 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9780645896404

Book preview

Copyright © 2023 Eliza Heights

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the author and the publisher, except for the inclusion of a brief quotation in a review.

Contents

Chapter 1: Emily

Chapter 2: Ethan

Chapter 3: Emily

Chapter 4: Ethan

Chapter 5: Ethan

Chapter 6: Emily

Chapter 7: Emily

Chapter 8: Ethan

Chapter 9: Ethan

Chapter 10: Emily

Chapter 11: Emily

Chapter 12: Ethan

Chapter 13: Emily

Chapter 14: Emily

Chapter 15: Ethan

Chapter 16: Ethan

Chapter 17: Emily

Chapter 18: Emily

Chapter 19: Ethan

Chapter 20: Emily

Chapter 21: Emily

Chapter 22: Emily

Chapter 23: Ethan

Chapter 24: Emily

Chapter 25: Ethan

Chapter 26: Emily

Chapter 27: Emily

Chapter 28: Ethan

Chapter 29: Emily

Chapter 30: Emily

Chapter 1:

Emily

"M

orning, Doctor Blake!"

Rosaline yelled as I saw her grab a file that contained one of my last patients.

Morning, Rosa. How are you doing? I responded with the most pleasant voice, even though my lack of breath was present in it.

Very well, ma. These files contain the progress report of the last man admitted into the Intensive Care Unit after his burns surgery, Rosa added and tried to quicken her steps to match mine.

My name is Emily Blake and I was one of the most notable surgeons in the district of Atlanta. The effortless showcase of my skills and the ray of hope I offered patients was none to be trampled upon. With over fifteen years of practice as a general consultant and ten years as a renowned surgeon, I had established my name, permanently, in the hearts of every American I had given one more chance at life. Also, my contributions to the academic materials used all around the world had shown the wealth of knowledge I amassed and my immense desire to bring about effective remedies to otherwise established hiccups in the medical field. I have constantly taken the world by shock each time my name rang in the ears of other professionals, and they finally met the face who bears the name. I had found a couple of them insulting in the initial stages but grew to rather bask in the fact that they didn’t know better, plus the wealth of admiration that followed soon after.

I was a woman of average height, a little over five feet five inches, with thick stature. I wasn’t slim, neither was I on the plus size but had extra flesh in all the right places. My buttocks, perfectly rounded, accentuated by my curvaceous hip and thick thighs. I was the perfect example of a figure eight. Back in high school, people envied me and also hated me because they thought I did not know how to flaunt my body well, nor did I attend parties or events to this effect.

I was light-skinned and had my hair straightened out so it fell just below my shoulders. It was perfectly bobbed and gave my face a rounded boost. My smile was electric - full and wholesome. I knew this without a doubt. It lifted my entire face and lit up my eyes in an instant. I usually argued it was one of my best features.

Studying medicine had tried to take that smile off my face countless times, but thankfully, it was deep-rooted within me. No matter how hard things got, it was always still there.

"Okay. And what

about it?" I questioned but not slowing my steps down or turning around.

During the night, he complained - to put it rather mildly - of some discomfort on the parts of his body where the healthy skin had been cut out, to replace the bare flesh on the burnt parts of the skin.

I finally stopped with subtle annoyance, then offered, But that’s normal, Rosa, and you know that.

Oh, yes ma.

So what’s all this about? I asked, now visibly irritated by the lack of clarity I was being offered.

We gave the same explanation, when he tossed and cried the entire night, but by closer examination by the doctor on call, he said it seemed that the skin used to fill up the open flesh was being engulfed. I’m not sure how to explain this, but like a chemical agent eating at something, Rosa did her best conveying the most vivid description to me but my face scrunched with every word and body movement of Rosa.

Okay. That’s enough. I’ll go to the ICU now. Please take these to my office and call Doctor Jay for me, I announced exasperatedly and turned around in the direction of the emergencies.

As soon as I walked into the wards, I greeted the patient in question while I washed my hands, towel-dried them and placed them in the gloves on the trolley at the side of the door. I had a small chat with my patient to put him at ease and take his mind off whatever he may have felt or what he may be anxious about. This was a skill I had mastered at such a very early stage in my career. While others strictly studied their books, I found myself doing an all-round development of my life and mastering people skills.

Certainly, it worked. Mr. Desmond had let out a hearty but painful laughter at one of my comments about his person. He winced at the discomfort but didn’t let his mood falter. Not until Dr. Jay, who I had sent for along with the other nurses walked in, did the expression on the patient’s face stiffen. It dawned on Mr. Desmond, all the tricks I had pulled under my sleeve to keep him distracted from whatever was soon to happen.

I and Dr. Jay proceeded to have further talks with our patient and set him at ease just for the purpose of continuous examination. Anesthesia was administered to Desmond while we cut out some fluid parts for further lab tests. In all this time, Desmond has fallen asleep soundly after a turbulent night.

Results flooded in minutes after, and I was quick to determine that it was an infection and the cause of the so-called infection. Immediately, I reprimanded Mr. Desmond as that infection had arisen out of his previous bad habits but soothed the wound by assuring him that it was well within my abilities to treat.

So there wouldn’t be any further infection or complications?

I can’t promise you that exactly, but we’ll start with the antibiotics for this and I’ll definitely be available to diagnose and quickly attack any other sudden occurrences. Does that sound like a plan?

Once again, I had distracted my patient from any more concerns creeping up on him. I proceeded to utter a few more explanations for his new treatment regime and coated them with jokes or stories that had Desmond giggling or trying to counter than think deeply about his current situation.

Whenever I was done with a patient, no matter how technical the case was, it ended as a win-win situation. They may still have their ailments, but the fears that accompanied every treatment made was given a proper bed to lay its head on once I was done interacting with them.

It was my superpower.

By the time I strolled to my office on the third floor, it was already midday. The sun’s rays were high and piercing through every open space it saw. Despite its intensity, I was certain the winds that rocked the outside of that hospital were mighty enough to keep one’s eyes from staying open if they walked through it.

It was a love-hate relationship with the summer weather. I loved the cool breeze nature provided and always desired to bask in it. When it became a little more violent, I still appreciated it as the leaves rustled and the branches danced rhythmically, but it was always a struggle being anywhere but indoors. The sun ranged in its degree of severity. Oftentimes, it was a soft tingling sensation. It shone brightly, but just in the right amount to allow one to take up their phone for a quick sun-kissed selfie. It was bearable. Other times, it was an attack as though it had been sent to fight someone or a group of people and conquer. It slapped in the most unpleasant ways and was a bother to be under.

As I sank into my chair and threw my head back as a final form of rest, I remembered my promise to meet up with my best friend, Dr. Mia Vallez, just before lunch so we could head out together. I had merely settled down into her space, and now I was soon to be uprooted again. Not like I was about to complain about meeting up with my best friend, I just looked forward to the time to myself for a reboot.

My schedule was something like this:

- wake up by five am,

- be out and in the hospital from eight am,

- take some time in my office for meditating,

- perform rounds in the hospital

- do whatever I had on my itinerary for the day, which mostly consisted of more research and anything that added to my wealth of knowledge.

At the end of every day, which was routinely a little past eight pm, I stroll into my home and crash on my L-shaped sofa, my favorite chair. Anything else that came after that, eating, watching a medical series, whatever it was, was done from the comfort of that chair.

I glanced at the wall clock on my left side and picked up my phone to kill some more time before I headed to Mia’s office. The chances Mia was even with another patient was high because there had been a lot of buzz around the hospital lately as so many people were being rushed in and admitted recently.

All hands have been required to be on deck lately, and all doctors, easily accessible. At our last board meeting, the Wednesday preceding that week, others had suggested having more doctors transferred there. Every day since then, exactly six days before, we have anticipated welcoming new hands to the club.

Other than that, things around the hospital ran smoothly. It had become everyone’s established routine, and being there was more of a norm to all than a responsibility to carry. Or maybe it was just from my point of view.

I adored being a doctor. It was something that could largely be classified as my life’s work. The way people also looked up to me in this field made everything better, and all the years of work had meaning in my life.

As though on cue, a text dropped on my phone. I raised the phone to see who the message was from, and it didn’t come as a surprise to see my best friend’s name across the screen. I knew it was Mia requiring my presence so I contemplated opening it or not but Mia was funny and said the most absurd things so involuntarily, I swiped the chat open.

Mia had typed-yelled the words A MAN BETTER BE WHAT’S TAKING YOU SO LONG TO GET HERE!

I chuckled and rolled my eyes. Mia was never going to give that topic a rest and it wasn’t like I hadn’t tried even though it had all been done with lack of interest. Mia always yelled that if only I gave ‘having a partner’ one quarter of the attention and dedication I gave medicine, I would have a blossoming relationship by now.

Always overly dramatic. I thought and rolled my eyes.

I always scoffed at her for calling me out like that but did nothing to change it.

For me, relationships were a lot of work. It was like a full time job and the one I had was enough to keep me fully occupied. The amount of dedication and effort I realized I had to put into any of such relationships I tried to start drove me away even faster than a prey running from its predator. Even when I tried to push the blame to the people I started dating, Mia saw through me quicker than I thought. Mia regularly told me it was fear. Fear of the unknown or what could be and I was always against that school of thought with receipts that mostly pertained to medicine. It was always a vigorous cycle.

I stopped trying altogether because I didn’t see the use and wanted nothing to derail me from my high standing feet as an outstanding female surgeon.

I rose to my feet, quickly tore out a sticky note and scribbled Stepped out for lunch. Call me if anything. I placed it on the other end of my table for anyone who walked in to read but reiterated the same to my assistant nurse whose station was a few meters from my door.

Dr. Blake finally graces us with her presence, Dr Mia announced as soon as her door flew open without any warning.

Oh my God! I’m so sorry, I exclaimed with my eyes widened on seeing patients seated before Mia.

Don’t worry, I was just seeing them out.

If you weren’t free, why did you text me! I pouted in accusation.

Don’t worry, come on in, girl. Make yourself comfortable. I got us lunch already, I’ll be right back.

I idled at the door till Mia and the patients were out of sight. I let out a sigh I didn’t know I held in out of shock.

I waltzed around my best friend’s office, picked up fancy things I was seeing for the first time to examine them and made mental notes to ask Mia about when she returned. Finally, I peeked out the windows to watch the busy road and settled there.

My office has an even better view than Mia’s own but not a view that watched people carrying about their daily lives. Mine offered more of a serene part that hardly gave me things to look out for or people to watch but gave the most calming sensation.

Mia strolled into her office and let the door swing shut behind her. Excitedly, she scurried closer to me while singing my praises.

I could sense that her demeanor was a bit suspicious but said nothing to that effect and matched her energy.

You could have warned me, you know?

About? Mia asked confused before it finally dawned on her what I was referring to. It was rather sudden.

Plus, if you had come in earlier, I wouldn’t have been free for a ‘quick consultation’, Mia accused and rolled her eyes before settling into the space beside me.

Now, it’s my fault.

It is always yours, babygirl.

Mia poked my sides and I snorted before rolling my eyes in response. After that, silence fell upon us and we turned to the roads.

See that man over there? I blurted out.

Which? The one on the suit? Mia asked, trying to trace my finger.

No, not him. The one to his right, wearing the blue hat, close to the pastry store.

Yeah, what about him?

I don’t know, he looks rather disinterested in life. What do you think he does for a living?

Not this guessing game right now, Mil, Mia chuckled and grabbed my folded arms.

I pouted.

I experienced a ping of sadness that Mia turned our favorite fun little activity down. We did it almost everywhere we went - the beach, a restaurant, wherever. So why not now?

Speaking of pastry, I’m hungry. I got us some. Come around, let’s eat. I’m sure work will soon beckon us again.

Mia was right. I was hungry too and that was probably why Mia made us shove our game aside. Plus, there and then wasn’t the perfect mood. I just resonated well with the strangers’ melancholy.

Together, we relaxed in the double seats on the other side of the table, meant for patients and Mia shared the pastries she had bought.

One chicken sandwich and a cup of vanilla milkshake for me and chocolate glazed donuts and coffee for herself.

Mil, remember the fundraiser you’ve been hearing me talk about with the others? The one our hospital was given a special invitation to?

Yeah, what about it? I responded, my mouth full of sandwiches.

We’re going together.

What!? I blurted out. When did we talk about that or when did I agree to that?

I know you. If I had given you that information before now, you’ll find every reason in your excuses handbook to abscond.

So, what? You’re trying to force me there against my will?

Put it any way you want to but we’re going together. It’s tonight too by the way.

What!? I nearly spat out all the food in my mouth.

Get back to your office and get your affairs in order. We leave early today, the MD knows about this. We’re St. Mary’s representatives.

What!?

I couldn’t process or accurately express the range of emotions I was feeling. Mia was right. If she had discussed it with me prior to this day, I would have asked to think about it and consequently found an excuse to wiggle out. However, it didn’t seem like good enough grounds to force me to any events. Mia knew how much social interactions scared and drained me.

While Mia was the party butterfly, I was the indoor mouse.

Mia and I have been close since forever. For the most part of our lives, through making life decisions, struggling at the same career path and basically growing as adults, we did it together. We had met in the first year of college as roommates. Our sisterhood grew from there and only waxed stronger.

It was a friendship-soulmates kind of thing. We balanced each other out perfectly and fit into each other’s lives with ease. It suddenly turned out that there was no one without the other.

Unlike me, Mia was well above average height and slender. She was light skinned with long blonde hair and the perfect cat eyes. The perfect