Unbothered Until You Came

r. The air inside felt sterile-crisp, calculated. Everything had a place, an order. It was the kind of world

ights overhead. In his white coat, he was untouchable. People in the hallways pa

" one of the nurses sai

The hospital had been his home for over a decade. It was where he'd built his name, crafted his lega

r the layers of accolades and surgical masks, there was a man who had never allowed himsel

to see Dr. Marcus, a fellow surgeon, holding out a file.

ke it. His hand remained at his side, as it always did i

cus nodded an

it out and saw a text from his sister, Rebecca: "Are you coming to Dani

a second thought: "I'll be there. I'll

ke. His life was about precision, not social gatherings. Love? That was something he di

into his pocket and hea

e used to saving lives in a matter of seconds. Brown's heart rate didn't pick up. He'd been here too m

corner. He turned to see Dr. Nicole, o

asked as he walked toward her,

lained, her eyes wide with urgency. "We need you t

edicting. The patient's life was on the line, but it was just anothe

ding toward the gurney.

ed his hands. The adrenaline rush of the surgery had long since worn off, replaced by a familiar emptiness. The pa

ted wins. The patient had made it thr

uzzed again. This time, the message

forming tonight at The Velvet Lounge. I know thi

f events-spoken word performances were a popular trend now. Still, the name "Helen Collins" didn't ring any

It was a bold invitation. An invitation from som

e typing back, "I don't typical

ed up. He'd seen plenty of women who tried to catch his attention, but this fe

side The Velvet Lounge. The neon lights flickered softly, casting a purple glow on the sidewalk

at he'd been intrigued by her message, but it was more than that. T

room, and people whispered excitedly, the buzz of anticipation almost tangible. He glanced

sipping on cocktails, chatting lightly. But then, the li

ore a simple black dress, but the way she carried herself made the dress look like an intricate masterpiece. T

n Co

for something-or someone. Then, her voice broke through the silence. The

, her voice smooth but powerful. "

anded attention. She spoke not with just her words but with every movement, ever

g on her every word. But for Brown, it

dn't care who it was. His eyes were fixed on Helen, and her word

she continued, her gaze locked somewhere near the back

s speaking to him. The man who had never once let love into his world

d slightly above them,

n years, Brown felt some