Chapter 8

**Amira**

I always had prided myself on being in control, both in my personal life and my career as a pediatrician. But all of that began to unravel the day Ryan confessed his love for me. Since then, my carefully constructed walls had been slowly crumbling, leaving me vulnerable in ways I never anticipated.

It was a typical morning in the hospital, with the usual flurry of activity as doctors, nurses, and patients filled the halls. I was checking on my patients with junior residents in tow. The children made cute interactions with us. But today, my mind kept drifting back to Ryan.

Ryan, the brilliant surgeon who had been my friend for years, had become something much more complicated. Our relationship had always been close, but since his confession, there was a new tension between us—one that was both exciting and terrifying.

"Dr. Amira, are you with us?" Mia, the hospital administrator, teased as she caught me daydreaming in the hallway. Mia had a sharp eye and an even sharper sense of humor, always quick to pick up on the smallest details.

I snapped out of my thoughts and flashed a smile at Mia. "Just a little distracted. It's been a busy morning."

Mia raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Busy morning or busy thoughts about a certain surgeon?"

I felt my cheeks flush, and I laughed it off. "You're imagining things, Mia."

"Sure, I am," Mia replied with a knowing grin before walking off to deal with administrative duties.

As I moved to check on her next patient, a four-year-old boy Mike , I was joined by Eva, who was finishing up her own rounds. Eva had known me for years, and our bond was as strong as it was unbreakable. She was also one of the few people who knew about the complexities of my relationship with Ryan.

"So, how's your love life, Amira?" Eva asked casually as she checked Mike's chart.

I rolled my eyes. "Why does everyone want to talk about my love life today?"

"Because it's more interesting than mine," Eva quipped. "Besides, you and Ryan are practically the hospital's favorite couple, even if you're not official yet."

I sighed, feeling the weight of her unresolved feelings. "It's complicated, Eva. You know that."

Eva softened, her usual teasing tone giving way to genuine concern. "I know, but that doesn't mean you should keep pushing him away. Ryan cares about you—a lot. And from what I can see, you care about him too."

Before I could respond, Ryan appeared at the door, his presence sending a wave of warmth through me. He was there to check on one of his post-op patients in the pediatric ward, but his eyes found me immediately. The connection between us was undeniable, and I felt my heart skipped a beat.

"Amira," Ryan greeted me with a smile that made me insides flutter. "How's your day going?"

"Busy as usual," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual despite the butterflies in my stomach.

Ryan nodded, glancing at Mike, who was playing with a toy truck on his hospital bed. "How's our little champ doing?"

My professional demeanor slipped back into place as I focused on Mike. "He's doing great. We should be able to discharge him by the end of the week if all goes well."

"That's good to hear," Ryan said, but his gaze lingered on me, the unspoken tension between us appeared.

Eva, sensing the charged atmosphere, made a quick exit, leaving the two of us alone. I felt the room shrink around us as Ryan stepped closer. Before she could anticipate something , the door burst open, and Sophia, one of the pediatric residents, hurried in with a flustered expression.

"Dr. Amira, we need you in Room 302. Mrs. Patel's son is having trouble breathing," Sophia said urgently.

My heart lurched, and all thoughts of romance were shoved aside as I rushed past Ryan, following Sophia down the hall.

**Ryan**

The situation demanded her full attention, and as she entered the room, she immediately shifted into action, barking orders and guiding the team through stabilizing the child.

I watched from the doorway, admiration and worry etched on my face. Amira was incredible under pressure, her calm and decisive nature saving lives daily. But I knew how much weight she carried, the burdens she refused to share with anyone, not even me .

Later that evening, after the chaos had settled, Amira returned to her office, drained but satisfied that the crisis had been averted. She was surprised to find Ryan waiting for her, a takeout bag in hand.

"I figured you might not have had time to eat," Ryan said, holding up the bag with a hopeful smile.

——————-

Amira couldn't help but smile back, touched by his thoughtfulness.

They sat together, eating in comfortable silence, the hospital's hum a distant background noise.

As they sat there, the tension between them softened, replaced by a warm, quiet understanding. Amira realized that despite her fears, Ryan was someone she could trust—someone she could lean on, even when things got tough.

Their relationship began to step forward more after that night, slowly but surely. They started spending more time together, sharing meals, talking about their days, and confiding in each other about the challenges they faced at work. Amira found herself looking forward to those moments, the comfort of Ryan's presence becoming a constant in her life.

Her friends noticed the change too. Mia would often catch Amira smiling at her phone, usually after receiving a text from Ryan. Eva teased her endlessly about it, but Amira didn't mind. There was something liberating about finally allowing herself to feel again, to let go of the fears that had held her back for so long.