Lisa Marie.
Jacksons' Residency.
21:12

Sshhhsss! Shhhh!

I continued to slide the butter across the skillet as it crackled and popped from the heat of the stove before placing the raw fish in the skillet.

Momentarily, the front door opened as a familiar voice echoed, "I'm home."

My response was a settled sigh as I continued focusing on the fish I was making. Stubbornness seemed to confide with me as I wasn't ready to talk to Michael after our argument at the hospital. My heart dwelled on the words, but it pained me to know there was this rift happening.

Was it already there, or is it that we are starting to see something we denied for a long time?

I grabbed the scapula and flipped the fish the other way as Michael walks over and squeeze a little lemon juice on top of the fish.

"I know you are ignoring me, Lisa. You tend to do that when you hate confrontation," he answers.

I grumbled stubbornly, wishing that he would just go away, "I don't want to do this right now."

His arms met up with my waist before kissing the top of my head. "You have no choice, baby. We seriously need to talk, and it's best if I go first," he mumbles into my ear.

I lowered the fire to let the fish simmer in the heat before squirming in his grasp to face him. His warm, almond eyes stared down at me as I rest my head on his chest.

I hated the idea of him being gone from my life. His warmth was too familiar to my liking, but idea of knowing a lot of things were wrong with us left my chest aching, and I was tired of ignoring it.

His initial reaction was to tighten his grasp around me before asking solemnly, "Did you...did you mean what you said at the hospital? About...not being happy with our marriage?" Instantly, I could hear the painful strain in the back of his throat as I look up at him.

"I hate myself for saying it, but I can't deny the own self-wounds this marriage is leaving me with. Michael, I can't do this anymore where I feel as though I'm competing for your affection."

He sighs before cupping my face hastily, "That's what I don't understand! Baby, don't you love when we make love? And I try to get you a lot of nice presents and everything. What has gotten into you?" I turn my head slightly out of guilt before I begin explaining,

"Because you can't keep me satisfied with sex and presents. I want you, and not like that, but to be with you. Why do you think we don't have kids right now, Michael?! Because I can't imagine the idea of caring for a baby while you're gone all of the time! It hurts me so much, imagine our child always wondering where Daddy is going to be? Yes, call me spoiled, a brat, a narcissistic bitch as you please. I don't care about the money or anything. I just want to know that somewhere in your heart you can see me, us, our future as your life, not your work. Not little Susie with a booboo, not your interns! At times, I feel as though every moment of my life is to worry about you and to make you happy to the point where I hide my feelings and emotions."

Michael frowns for a moment before looking away in thought for a second. He seemed to be contemplating the right words before answering sympathetically, "I'm sorry I make you feel this way."

I walk over to the stove as I flip the piece of fish from the skillet to a plate before sliding the plate on the granite countertop.

He looks down at the plate as I hand him a fork. "It's for you," I explained. He takes the fork from me as I watch him set the fork down and grab my hand, leading me to the living room.

"Hey, what about your dinner?" I asked in annoyance.

"No, wait, hold on," he says.

I watch as he turns on the vinyl player and places the needle on the edge of the vinyl in the tray. I smile softly as Frank Sinatra starts playing as Michael walks over to me and wraps his arms around my waist as I wrap my arms around his neck.

"I don't want this marriage to end, Lisa," he whispers.

The two of us being to sway gracefully as I answered softly, "Michael...let's just enjoy this..." At this point, my head was laying against his sternum to listen to his slowed heartbeat pounding in his chest as we continue to sway together quietly.

A part of me wished that this swaying could end all our marital issues.

"I don't want to just enjoy this, I want to be okay with you. I want to make you happy like I used to. What can I do to fix it all?" he asked.

I mumble quietly, "Work fewer hours, take some vacation days or something..." He answers back tenderly, "You know I can't do that, everyone counts on me."

I look up at him as tears roll down my cheeks, "But...I count on you. I can't keep doing this, and I'm tired of losing when it comes to you. During our whole relationship, I was here for you. I sacrificed a lot for you, and I always found a way to bite my tongue because I was afraid of hurting your feelings when it came to mine. I've been here even when no one gave a damn about your success and all I ever ask for was one thing in return and you can't even give me that, Michael. I'm tired, okay? I'm tired of you not giving a damn about my feelings for once, not willing to make the sacrifices like I did for you."

He looks at me with a blank stare as I slide my hands from his neck and look down at my wedding ring before sliding it off to rest it in the palm of his hand.

"I just think we need a little time apart...to figure things out."

His weary eyes look down at the wedding ring before back up at me with a devastated expression. "Lisa, please, we could go to counseling or something other than this," he tries to explain.

I shake my head before smiling softly, "We don't need counseling. It just seems as though, we want different things in our lives. You still want to be Jasmine County's trophy surgeon, and I want to settle and have a family. Look, I'm going to stay with my mother for a little while. I'm not saying our marriage is over, but maybe...this break will help up figure things out. It's not fair for the both of us to pretend everything is okay when there might be something the both of us are missing out on."

He stares at me for a moment before finally nodding his head in agreement. "I hope you know, I will always love you, Lisa," he whispers. I nod my head before reaching over to gently stroke his cheek, "I love you too, now can we continue dancing?"

"Of course."

Cleo.
Catalina Express Dock.
21:32

"Oh my gosh! Stop it! Haha, Dante!"

I continued to laugh as Dante's fingers continue to tickle my sides as we walk from the ferry.

Eventually, he stops before wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "You know, I've been on a lot of dates, but I've never had this much fun with a girl," he laughs.

I roll my eyes while laughing, "Yeah right, don't tell me that's a default line you use on all of your dates!" Dante gasps dramatically, "Oh please, Cleo! I'm serious. I'm having a great time. You're an outlet for me. I don't have to be someone I'm not when I'm with you."

My head turns over to him as he shrugs bashfully.

"I can't say I don't feel the same way about you, too," I answered back casually. My response to his words caused him to beam as I walk over to him and press my lips against his for a sweet yet subtle kiss. His lips were warm and pleasing to mine as I kissed them once more.

He whispers, "Let me take you back to your dorm. It's getting kind of chilly out here." I nod my head as he takes off his jacket and wraps out around my shoulder.

"You know, I enjoy this side of you," I sigh effortlessly.

Our connection never seems to damper. It just flowed aimlessly from one point to the next.

He smuggled a grin as we walk down the sidewalk, back to the hospital, "It's only reserved for you. Do you think we could do this some other time?"

I smile to myself as his hand reaches over to hold mine. "Maybe, it depends on what type of schedule Michael had us running." Dante groans, "Yes, your first year is your worst year in terms of long shifts, back-to-back nights. I guess our next date might be when you're an R2."

I let out a playfully exaggerated sigh before resting my hand on my forehead, "That's so long from now."

We continued to walk until we reached the downtown train and hopped on.

As I sat down in one of the seats, Dante explained, "I was thinking about what you said about your father and how you are trying to uncover those mysteries. Although I have my demons, I want to help you with that."

I shake my head hesitantly, "No, please. It's very complicated in itself."

"How so? My family may know some people that can help you."

I look down at my hands before up at him grimly, "I don't want anyone else involved. It's all so inexorable and the idea of you getting hurt to help me...I would never forgive myself. But, I do have a secret. Can you keep it?"

Dante nods, "Sure, anything for you."

I smile softly before confessing, "I didn't expect to have a nice time tonight. You're different...you know outside of the hospital."

He lets out a chuckle before resting his hand on mine, "Well, it's because I've put a minuscule of my trust in this...our mutual relationship." I raise an eyebrow, "Just a tad?"

He nods, "I'm not big on trust, Cleo, so when I do, it's only a small fraction of it." I look away for a moment before mumbling,

"Do you think I would let you down?"

My head turns back to him, awaiting his answer, as he replied, "I don't sense you would, but it's my discretion." It seemed as though there was more to his answer, but I didn't want to pry his thoughts. When the time comes, he will lay more of his past demons.

I nod, confirming the agreement, "Fair enough."

"You know, we've been on this date for a couple of hours, and you never once really talk about your family. It's normal to feel homesick you know?" he explained.

I scrunch my face at the disgust of his question as talking about my family simply wasn't a first date topic. Of course, Dante has given me a plethora of information about his six brothers and two sisters and their memories during dinner, I simply couldn't hold a candle to such family bonds.

More like a never one.

I answered, "I don't have a family. Well, I don't have a family I'm close with. My mother just one day left and never came back and my father, well, he's...deceased. Well, in terms of blood relatives." He frowns for a moment, "No siblings?"

"I have a half-sister, but we are not close. She...never liked me."

My hands found a way to intertwine with Dante's warm fingers as he asks, "Jealousy?" I shake my head before looking down at our hands, concentrating on how my small hands fit his so perfectly in his grasp, "It's complicated."

More like I'm the reason her father is dead.

Luckily, the train makes an abrupt stop before announcing that we made it to the final stop. Dante and I stood up as the two of us hopped off the train and walked down the stairway back down to the sideway, as the route to the hospital was as short as five minutes.

"Well, you know, you seem close to Dr. Lilliant?"

I smile to myself as we walked slowly together," She's my best friend, well, someone I would call a sister. You know Rose and I have been friends our entire life and she's everything to me." Dante chuckles lightly, "That's good you have a good friend like that. Having the support of friends and family is what will help you push through residency."

I nod my head as we walk up the ambulance bay to see Michael sitting on the bench alone. He was still wearing the scrubs from earlier today.

We walked up to him as Dante frowns, "You're still here?"

Michael exhales sullenly, "No, I went home for a little while and came back. There was no point in staying though. Um, I mean there's no point of hiding it since the hospital will find out soon..."

I frown suspiciously at his smooth, mellow tone before seeing Rose walking outside with a cup of coffee in her hand. I smile widely as she runs over to me, giving me a big hug.

"Cleo! Ugh, I miss you! Oh! Dr. Jackson and Dr. Gioia! It's a pleasure to see you two."

Dante smiles softly as Michael finally answered, "Lisa and I are going to be taking a little break...from each other. Uh, it's something she's been kind of wanting for a while."

Dante sighs, "I'm sorry, man, so how is that going to work? I mean you guys both work here, you could imagine the tension..."

Michael shakes his head before answering, "No, like I said she's been wanting a break. Ugh...it sounds dreadful but all I feel is sheer embarrassment. Anyways, she got this job offer in Milwaukee. Better pay and hours. Of course, we are going to see each other every weekend to talk and everything, it's just things have been relentlessly daunting how drifted we truly are. She even wants me to apply for some jobs in Milwaukee when I'm ready. I think she's doing this to make me move away from here and move on from this part of my life."

Rose pleads, "Well, I mean don't be an idiot! She's your wife and...you should try to make it work!" Michael gazes up at her before smiling tiredly, "Of course, as any husband should work out their marriage with their wife, but if I sought out what home means to me..."

He looks away for a moment quietly.

We look at him as he recuperates himself then answer, "I can complain about the pay and the lousy food in the cafeteria and the ratio of lack of doctors with the overwhelming number of patients, but this place is my home. My love for this place...it's like a cockroach that won't die. I was a medical student here, a chief resident, I worked my way from the bottom to the top with my bare hands and the idea of not seeing bright new residents or my friends...it's more than just my work, but what I've gained from it."

Rose takes a sip of her coffee as I answered, "Michael, have you ever thought...well, that you're afraid of change." He shakes his head.

"I'm not afraid of the change. I guess I'm afraid of just being a memory here. I afraid if I walk away...I'm walking away from my entire home. This place has left such an ineradicable mark on my heart, but to not be with Lisa...well, I would be losing a part of myself."

Dante growls, "Then stay!"

Rose argues, "No leave!"

I shot back angrily, "How about the two of you shut up! Ugh, you're not helping! Just go!"

The two of them look at each other before walking away as I sit beside Michael on the bench and rest my hand on his shoulder. "I think Lisa is giving you time to seek what you want. This is not a decision you should be making within an hour. I mean you've been here for a whole segment of your life and Lisa, well, you love her," I clarified.

He chuckles dryly, "Then why is it so hard? If I was a normal human, I would be right on that train with Lisa, starting our new life together. Eh. You seem to be an expert on this kind of thing. Had the same experience?"

I shrug pathetically before answering, "Not me personally. But, I know the feeling of two things in the balance and you only can choose one to keep. The answer is there, you just have to do some soul-searching."

His warm, mahogany eyes stared into mine for a while as I stared back at him. Our intimacy seemed a bit difficult to comprehend but it just clicked like two puzzle pieces.

"I cannot lie when I say I enjoy being in your acquaintance. Your presence brings radiance of wisdom to my life. However, I must ask...How was your date?"

I smile widely, "We had a lot of fun. It's been a while since I had some fun with a guy." Michael laughs, "That's good. A girl deserves to have a good time. I miss having fun little dates like that." I frown in response to his nostalgic yet melancholic tone, "No dates?"

"Too busy at times or if me and Lisa went on dates, the beeper was the homewrecker."

I giggle subtly before he asks, "How do you feel about marriage?"

I grin playfully before shaking my head, "I don't think marriage is for everyone as others would hope it would be for. It's beautiful and all, but spending the rest of your life with one human seems awfully far-fetched."

He answers with a brief "Ah" before gazing up at the sky.

There was a sense of recollection that he did silently to suppress his feelings, but Michael was a man of intelligence. Except it when it seemed necessary for his own life at hand.

I offered, "Do you want to go get a cup of coffee or something?" He releases a chuckle before looking back at me, "How reliant you seem to be. The current situation is abrupt but not one that peaks my vulnerability, Cleo. I'm going to be okay. I can see in your eyes your daunting concern for my well-being as if I was ill."

"Well, because I really care about you and I hate seeing my own mentor and friend unhappy."

The moment his eyes met with mine the moment I said 'friend,' which in response, I couldn't help but immediately looked away. Something struck me with those eyes that held the gradient of cocoa and onyx. His passiveness left no angst about his emotions but sought a better understanding of his life.

"I think I'm going to take some time off, from work," he whispers.

Eventually, I found the courage to look back at him as I reach over and grabbed one of his hands. "I think that would be best, but I will admit it will be strange to not have you here." He smiles at me before allowing his hand to gently squeeze mine, "I have a colleague from London who will be taking my place for the time being. She's great, probably one of the best surgeons I know. I'm sure you and the other interns will enjoy her company."

I couldn't help but grin mischievously as he knew exactly what I was thinking. "Yes, we...did go out a couple of times in the past before I pushed her away. It was either me or a fellowship in London. I wouldn't have forgiven myself if I told her to stay here for me over an opportunity like that." I squint my eyes at him as he turns his head away embarrassingly.

"So you're just going to bolt out here without even saying hi to her?"

"I said hi to her on the phone, isn't that enough? She's married now and happy, and I'm happy for her. Anyways, um, I need to get going. I think I'm going to go stay with my mother back in California for a little while. I haven't seen her in months."

His hand found its way to release from my grasp as I watch him stand up and walk away from the bench, leaving me alone outside. There were so many thoughts in my mind. It was only a couple of days into my new life as an intern and so many things have changed. Things changing in my own life and the life of my colleagues and my new friends.

All it took was just one leap of faith.

꧁ Don't forget to comment and like! ꧂

A/N: So it's summer vacation for me for a little while so I will be doing updates a lot more frequently. Thank you again for all of the love and support for this book. I guess you can say now we are done with the "preliminary chapters" of the story. Also, I hope the chapters aren't too long or too short, if you have an issue with the length, don't be afraid to leave your feedback as well! Happy Reading! ☻︎