Life

LUKE'S POV

I chose this specific restaurant tonight because I wanted to avoid the usual places we go to. I wanted to avoid running into this woman that decided to break my heart into a million pieces. I want nothing to do with her and yet, here she is ready to torture me again.

"You know that you're the last person I want to see, Nicole"

"I know but I really need to talk to you"

"You want to talk to me? About what? About the fact that you gave up on me the moment things got too rough for you?"

"Baby, you know that's not the truth"

"Now, I'm baby? Are you delusional?"

"You've always been my baby, you know that?"

"No, Nicole. That's exactly what I don't know. I really don't have time to waste on something like this. Now, if you'll please excuse me?"

I can't believe the nerve that she has to come here and just expect me to take her back after the fast one she pulled on me. I need to get out of here and I need to go now. But then I feel her grab my arm.

"Please, Luke. I made a mistake. I didn't think clearly. I didn't know what was happening"

"You didn't know what was happening? What bull shit is that? I told you all about me from the very beginning and as I recall, you didn't have a problem with it. Please, just leave me alone"

I take her hand off my arm and get into the limo.

"What's wrong, honey?"

"Not now mother, please"

We drive back home and I see my life playing like a movie before my eyes. The same thing keeps happening to me. I meet a girl, I think she could be the one and then the minute things get too much, they run. Then after they've realized it's not so bad, they would come running back. I can't live like this anymore, I just don't have time. I don't know how much more of this I would be able to take. I think I should just swear off women and live my life to the fullest.

MIKAYLA'S POV

I get back home and fall on my bed. This has been a long day. I need sleep and I need it now. I finish up and check my messages before I find my bed.

"Dear Dr. Stone. We at Valley spa would like to offer you-"

I delete the message right there. All they want is to get me to go there and then use some of the products for their advertisement. I skip to the next message.

"Honey, this is your father. When will we ever talk to you again or even get to see you? Your brother and I need a woman in the house. We miss your presence here with us. Fly down this weekend and come grace us with your beautiful presence. Just think about it. Love you and miss you lots"

My dad, my pillar of hope. He has been there for me ever since my mother died. I wish I could go and see them again but work has been so hectic and I need to make sure my patients stay alive. I guess I'll think about it.

I get into bed and close my eyes but just as they close, a thought pops into my head. That handsome stranger I saw tonight. Could it be possible that he made such an impression on me that I feel the need to now waste my precious sleeping time on him? Yes, it seems he has captured my thoughts.

I shake my head in an attempt to shake the thoughts of him out of my mind. I don't have time to visit my family, what time would I possibly have for a boyfriend. I rarely even have friends. I turn around and fall asleep.

Not even a few hours have passed when my pager goes off. I jump at the sound and quickly check my pager. Oh no, it's Mr. Fredrickson. I call the hospital and Jen answers the phone.

"What's going on?"

"You need to come, Mr. Fredrickson has gone into cardiac arrest, we've managed to revive him but his heart rhythm stay irregular"

"Okay, I'm on my way"

Dammit! I run all the possible scenarios through my head as to what it can be while I dress as quickly as possible. I drive to the hospital and Jen waits for me at the door. She fills me in on all the treatments they gave him. Soon I find myself in his room busy with my stethoscope on his heart, listening.

"Get me a sonar please"

"Yes, doctor"

I do a sonar on his heart and it's as I feared, I need to go in again. The valve isn't working as it should.

"Jen, please prep the OR"

Dammit, I didn't want to this. This can be very fatal for him and I don't know if his heart would be able to take it again but if I do nothing. He could very well die. I make my way to the OR when I run into Dr. Gerhard. He's been a good friend to me but I think he always wanted something more. I'm just not feeling the same as he does for me.

"Morning, Dr. Stone"

"Morning, Dr. Gerhard. I see you've been busy tonight already?"

"Yes, I'm afraid it's an all-nighter for me and you're going in now?"

"Yes, need to repair a heart valve"

I walk past him while talking and then slip into my OR. I wash my hands and send up a prayer for the surgery I'm going to do now. I need to know I'm not alone in there tonight. I get out of the wash-up room and Jen put on my gloves.

"Let's save us a heart tonight, shall we?"

I show the nurse to let them play my favorite music that helps me to concentrate and at the same time help me relax. I stand over the patient and get my doctor-face on. I hold out my hand and say.

"Scalpel…"