SUCTION!

"By the way, I recognized you earlier and wanted to greet you during our noon encounter, but you seemed all flustered and hurried off," he said, turning back to glance at the resting woman. As he looked at her, he found her fast asleep, like a sleeping beauty. A soft smile crept onto his face as he carefully adjusted her position, ensuring she was comfortable.

He placed his belongings on the study table and returned to cover her with the blanket, tucking her in securely. Just as he was about to pull away, she began to stir. Her eyebrows furrowed in distress as silent tears slipped down her cheeks. His heart tightened at the sight of her pain, and his brows furrowed in empathy. He wiped her tears away, silently promising, "I'll make sure you never have to cry again."

Without thinking, he gently patted her to calm her, but then she reached out, taking hold of his hand. The warmth of his touch seemed to ease her cold memories, slowly melting some of her inner turmoil. Dante, exhausted from the day's events, sat back on the bed, continuing to pat her gently. Aurora's grip on his hand remained, and before long, Dante found himself drifting into a deep sleep as well.

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"Dr. Lora, the patient's BP is dropping drastically!"

"SUCTION!" came the urgent response, as chaos erupted around the operating table.

After a few tense moments, the heart-wrenching words echoed through the room.

"Death on the table. Time of death: 4:02 AM."

Ivy Goldenshield, who had been in the OT, stood frozen for a moment. The patient, an elderly man she'd monitored for six months, had passed. He was more than just a patient to her—he had been a constant presence, the one she confided in after long, grueling days. After every exhausting shift, she would sit beside him and unload the weight of her day. He, always calm, would listen intently, offering quiet comfort. His infectious laughter would fill the room after hearing her mischievous ways of solving problems or scolding the ones who troubled her. But now, he was gone. She had lost not just a patient, but a friend, someone who had become a part of her routine, a source of solace in the midst of her own chaotic world.

Ivy's heart felt heavy as the loss settled in, the silence of the operating room almost deafening.