Hospitals are high school cafeterias with life or death stakes. By Monday morning, the rumor mill is already churning. I walk into the breakroom to grab my coffee, only to freeze when I hear two surgical techs whispering by the fridge.

"Did you hear? Vance took Lewis to that fancy Italian place downtown."

"Give it three weeks. Remember when he dated that pediatric resident? She transferred because it got too awkward after he ended it."

My stomach drops. My biggest fear is happening. I square my shoulders, pour my coffee, and walk out without a word. For the rest of the shift, I am ice. I keep all communication with Silas strictly clinical. When he asks for a scalpel, I hand it over without meeting his eyes. When he tries to catch my gaze over a patient chart, I pivot and walk away.

By two in the afternoon, the tension between us is thicker than the humidity in the ambulance bay. I am stocking the main supply closet when the door clicks shut behind me. I spin around to find Silas blocking the exit. He looks frustrated, a stark contrast to his usual unshakeable demeanor.

"What are you doing, Maya?" he demands, stepping into my space. "You have been treating me like a stranger all day."

"I am treating you like an attending physician, Dr. Vance," I say, crossing my arms defensively. "Which is what I should have done all along. I heard the gossip today. I refuse to be part of your rotation."

Silas clenches his jaw. He takes another step forward, forcing me to back up until my shoulders hit the shelving unit. He does not touch me, but his proximity is suffocating in the best, most terrifying way.

"You think I care about what they say?" he says, his voice a low, fierce whisper. "Let them talk. I only care about the woman standing in front of me. I told you Friday night that I was done playing games. I meant it. Do not punish me for a past I am trying to leave behind, Maya. Not when you are the reason I want to change."

The hospital gossip is brutal! 😤 Will Maya give him a chance to explain, or is the pressure too much? 👇 Hit ❤️ to support Maya and her boundaries, and share this chapter with your friends!