Chapter 8 8. Not so calm

Author's note""""

As Kelly stood in her office, gazing out at the Manhattan skyline, she felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. Three months ago, she'd taken a leap of faith and moved to New York, and now she was thriving in her new role.

Her phone buzzed, and she smiled as she saw the name on the screen - Dr. Patel, her colleague who'd helped her settle in.

"Hey, Kelly! I heard about the new project the hospital is launching. Are you on board?" Dr. Patel asked.

Kelly's curiosity was piqued. "Tell me more," she said, leaning forward in her chair.

As Dr. Patel briefed her on the project, Kelly's excitement grew. This was exactly the kind of challenge she'd been looking for.

"I'd love to be a part of it," Kelly said, her mind already racing with ideas.

With a sense of purpose, Kelly dove into the project, her expertise and passion shining through.

The sound of sirens and alarms pierced through the hospital's usual bustle, signaling an emergency. Kelly's head snapped up from the project files she'd been reviewing, her instincts kicking in.

She quickly assessed the situation, her mind racing with possibilities. What kind of emergency could this be? A mass casualty incident? A code blue?

As she stood up, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was the hospital's internal paging system. "All available medical staff, report to the ER immediately. We have a multiple trauma alert incoming."

Kelly's training kicked in, and she sprang into action, grabbing her bag and rushing towards the ER.

What would she find when she arrived? Would it be a chaotic scene or a well-coordinated response? The uncertainty fueled her adrenaline as she rushed to respond.

The ER was a whirlwind of activity as Kelly rushed in to join the team. Two men, victims of a car accident, were being wheeled in on stretchers.

One of them, a young man in his mid-twenties, was in critical condition. His face was pale, and his body was covered in bruises and lacerations. The monitors beeped ominously, indicating his fragile state.

The other man, slightly older, seemed more stable, but still shaken. He was being assessed by another team of doctors and nurses.

Kelly quickly assessed the critical patient's condition, her eyes scanning the monitors and his body. "Let's get him into trauma bay one, stat!" she ordered, her voice clear and authoritative.

The team sprang into action, moving swiftly to stabilize the patient. Kelly's focus narrowed to the task at hand - saving this young man's life.

As she worked, Kelly's mind was a flurry of calculations and decisions, each one crucial to the patient's survival.

As Kelly's eyes locked onto the patient's face, a jolt of recognition ran through her. She felt like she'd been punched in the gut.

It was Augustus, her ex-boyfriend.

Kelly's professional training kicked in, and she pushed aside her personal emotions. She couldn't let her feelings compromise her judgment or the care she provided.

With a deep breath, she focused on the task at hand. Augustus needed her expertise, and she was determined to save his life.

The rest of the team seemed oblivious to the personal connection, and Kelly was grateful for that. She worked efficiently, directing the team with precision and skill.

As they worked to stabilize Augustus, Kelly's mind whirred with questions. What had happened? Was this just a tragic accident, or was there more to it?

Kelly's hands moved with precision, her mind focused on the task at hand. She worked effortlessly to save Augustus's life, her training and expertise guiding her every move.

The monitors beeped, the ventilator hummed, and the team's voices were calm and focused. Kelly's leadership was evident as she directed the team with clear, concise orders.

As the minutes ticked by, Augustus's vital signs began to stabilize. Kelly's team worked in harmony, their movements choreographed by years of training and experience.

With each passing moment, Augustus's chances of survival grew. Kelly's expertise and the team's efforts were paying off.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Augustus was stabilized. Kelly breathed a sigh of relief as the team transferred him to the ICU.

The tension in the room began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of pride and accomplishment. Kelly's team had done an incredible job.

But as Kelly gazed at Augustus's face, her emotions began to surface. She'd saved his life, but what about his future? And what about their past?

Kelly's eyes scanned the folder, her mind reeling with the revelation. Augustus, the man she'd known and loved, had been lying to her about his identity.

Adrian Slyvester Roman - that was the name on the folder, not Augustus. A mix of emotions swirled inside her - shock, anger, and confusion.

Why had he lied to her? What was he hiding?

Kelly's thoughts were a jumble of questions and doubts. She felt betrayed, like she'd been living a lie.

As she stood there, frozen in shock, Kelly realized she needed to separate her personal feelings from her professional duties. She had to focus on treating Adrian...or Augustus, whoever he was.

But the question lingered - what else had he lied about?

Kelly stood outside the hospital room, her hand on the door handle, hesitating. Three days had passed since the accident, and Adrian...or Augustus, or whoever he was...should be awake by now.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she might face. Kelly had been avoiding him, unsure of how to process her emotions.

As she entered the room, her eyes met his. He was awake, watching her with an intensity that made her skin prickle.

"Good morning," Kelly said, her voice professional, detached.

Adrian's gaze held hers, searching for something. Kelly wasn't sure what he was looking for, but she knew she wasn't ready to give it to him.

"Who are you?" Adrian asked, his voice rough from disuse.

Kelly's expression remained neutral, but inside, she was reeling. Did he really not remember, or was this just another lie?

"Good morning," Kelly said, her voice professional. "I'm Dr. Kelly, and I've been taking care of you since your accident. You were brought in three days ago with severe injuries. We've been monitoring your condition closely."

Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly as he processed the information. "Accident?" he repeated, his voice still rough.

"Yes," Kelly explained. "You were in a car accident. You suffered significant trauma, but you're lucky to be alive."

Adrian's gaze drifted away, his expression thoughtful. Kelly could see the wheels turning in his mind as he pieced together fragments of his memory.

As she continued to explain his condition and treatment, Kelly's professional demeanor remained intact. But beneath the surface, she was acutely aware of the tension between them.

Adrian's eyes locked onto Kelly's, his gaze piercing. "And you are...?" he asked, his voice firm but controlled.

Kelly's expression remained professional. "I'm Dr. Kelly, as I mentioned earlier. I've been your attending physician since you were admitted."

Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly, his mind racing. "I think I know you," he said, his voice low. "You're...more than just my doctor, aren't you?"

Kelly's composure faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her footing. "We'll discuss your personal relationships later, Mr. Roman," she said, using his alias. "For now, let's focus on your recovery."

Adrian's gaze lingered on hers, searching for answers. Kelly's detachment only seemed to fuel his curiosity.

Kelly's eyes searched Adrian's, trying to read his expression. Did he really not remember their past, or was this just another deception?

She thought back to their time together, the laughter, the conversations, the intimacy. How could he seem so calm, so detached, if he truly remembered?

Or was this all just an act, a clever ruse to gauge her reaction?

Kelly's mind whirled with questions, doubts, and uncertainties. She wasn't sure what to believe, or what to expect.

As she stood there, frozen in thought, Adrian's gaze never left hers. He seemed to be waiting for her to make the next move, to reveal her hand.

The silence between them grew thicker, heavier, until Kelly finally broke it. "Let's focus on your recovery, Mr. Roman," she repeated, her voice firm but controlled.

But inside, she was seething with questions. What did he remember? What was he hiding? And what did he want from her now?