Too Late For Regret: The Surgeon's Escape

id through the skin

and calm under the harsh fluorescent lights of the ER. Her patient, a chef who'

, her voice muffled

pped th

the trauma bay doors burst open. A nur

ion on the interstate. We have thr

ompanion, settled in Kayli's stomach. She nodded,

my w

night shift swirling around her. Shouts, the frantic beeping of mon

y being wheeled in, an

eath h

eft arm was bent at an unnatural angle, a clear fracture.

at the paramedic

Someone che

was propped up, a small abrasion on her forehead. Carly Strickland. A wo

-filled eyes fixed on Brody. A perf

saw the thi

son.

, but his small arms were wrapped tightly around Carl

whimpered into th

ight into Kayli's heart. Her own son, see

space opened

Her white coat felt like armor, the mask a shield. She pulled

he spoke, was dev

g surgeon on duty

d in his eyes, quickly replaced by irritation.

e sharp. "Get Carly a full workup. A brai

t acknowledge the bizarre, humiliat

dn't loo

or Leo, her professional training kickin

er into Carly's neck, a small, rejecting

her fingers

laced her stethoscope on the woman's chest. Carly looked u

h. A flicker of v

remained a

rest nurse. "Superficial laceration to the fo

ney. Her touch was clinical as

is voice a low grumble. "Carly was jus

er voice as sharp an

tion and a cast. Get h

weren't on her. They were following the gurney carrying

extinguished the final emb

bed. He was already falling asleep, his small

eynolds, appeared at her s

s new... friend? The

mbers felt like a thousand tiny needles piercing her ski

ped off her gloves, which were now stained with

owing away five

r. Chen, you'll take over with Mr. Bo

ted alcove at the end of the hallway. Her hands we

ed out h

-her, Brody, Leo-at the beach last summer. They

ered over the

shudderi

it. The ph

ound her lawyer's name. Her finger

I agree to the previous terms

hit

the pocket of her white coat. The last flicker of pai

nt scar on her left index finger was a p

d had ju

nto the noise and chaos of the emer

d, absolu