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Prologue: Breath In, Breath Out

Living in such a small city is something Peyton Sawyer had grown accustomed to. The years she spent growing up had prepared her for such a life. The city (if you can even call it that) about thirty miles north of Wilmington, named after its first mayor, Dildew, had become a place she once called home. Living with both her parents and as being an only child she'd definitely say her life was boring. She'd been a 3.9 GPA student, graduating with honors, but choosing to stay below the radar at school- only having a few really close friends.

A change of scenery was what she thought she needed once she turned eighteen deciding to move to New York City for college and medical school. There, she spent her next ten years for schooling and interning at different hospitals before she found her way back to North Carolina, where she bought her first house in the small town of Tree Hill.

She'd been able to get there a good week early to unpack before her first day at the hospital, and since it was still a good three days away, she's decided to get a full fridge before work takes away all her time.

Now, as she stands in line at the grocery store, pretending to read an article in "People" magazine, and is waiting for the guy in front of her to get his credit card working. She's been in line for about eight minutes, and even though she considers herself a patient woman, this is starting to get ridicules.

The man turns to her, once again apologizing for taking so long. "Let me just try one more…if- if it doesn't work…I'll- I'll leave." She just smiles at him, noticing his increase in paleness and sweat gathering on his forehead.

"It's fine. Just take your time." She noted his increase of breaths about two minutes ago and knows that his heart rate must be up. Stress, she figures.

For another thirty seconds her attention is drawn to an article about Angelina Jolie adopting another child. She sighs, closing the magazine before looking to her watch.

"Sir…Sir? Are you okay?" As if being in slow motion, Peyton glances up at the cashier noticing a look of bewilderment in her eyes just before it becomes one of horror. The man in front of her is on the ground before she could blink.

It takes a second for her to come out of shock, but when she does, her instincts kick in. Moving the cart out of the way, she makes her way to the man who is currently on his back. Getting on her knees, she leans her ear near his mouth to check for breathing. Nothing. "Damnit," she mutters. Placing her two fingers on his neck, she checks for a pulse. Nothing. "Call an ambulance, he's not breathing!" she shouts to the cashier, who quickly runs off in search of the phone.

Leaning down again, she breaths into him, watching his chest rise slightly. Placing her hands on his chest she begins doing reps. 1..2…3…4…up to 30. Her adrenalin is running overtime as she starts CPR again.

Noticing something hard on the bottom of her hand, she moves it and sees the indent of a necklace. Moving the piece from out of his shirt, she notices the medallion as something a diabetic patient would wear. Different symbol, but all the same. Flipping it over it reads "CHF". Congestive Heart Failure. Blinking back surprise at how young this man is for such a complex disease, she continues to do CPR until the paramedics arrive.

"Ma'am, we need you to get out of the way please, we'll take it from here." The paramedic shoos her hands away.

"He..He's not breathing, and there's no heartbeat. I think…He's got CHF." She wipes at the tears she didn't even know she shed.

The paramedic nods his head, taking out the defibrillator after checking for the nonexistent pulse, attaching paddles to the mans chest. "Clear." He calls before shocking him. Checking for a pulse again, he shakes his head. "Going again…Clear." The body jerks with movement.

Peyton can see the man take a little breath while the paramedic checks the pulse again. "Stabilized. Lets get him ready to move." Lifting the man onto the stretcher, Peyton sees the wallet on the floor. She picks it up, giving it to the paramedic. He nods his head before sticking it into his bag. "I'll make sure they get it to him."

"Thanks." While the other medic packs the bag, another one is putting an oxygen mask on the blond man.

"Hey, you saved his life you know." The paramedic says, adjusting the mask on the mans face before looking at Peyton. She blushes, and shrugs her shoulders. She can't seem to find her voice since her attention is drawn to the man on the stretcher.

Peyton goes a little closer, unconsciously gabbing his hand giving it a squeeze. Peyton studies his face for a moment, and it briefly flashes through her mind that he's attractive. His hair is untamed but in a controlled kind of way. It's rather short, but it seems rather easy to style. He's got about two days worth of shadow on his face that makes him look wiser, and his eyes…wait…what? Taking a breath in surprise, Peyton stares into the bluest eyes she's ever seen. His eyes blink once as his free hand (she still seems to be holding the other one…) tries to take off the mask. Peyton shockingly is able to find her voice, "No. You have to keep that on." Her voice is gentle and is one of concern, one she's only ever used the children at the hospital. He slowly puts down his hand, and gazes down at their fingers that are still intertwined. Lifting his eyes back to hers, he stares into her eyes for a moment, before his close.

Feeling his grip in her fingers begins to fade, and his breaths become more even, she lets him go. Not even two seconds later she watches as he's taken out the door and into the ambulance.

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What do you think? Continue?
-xo dreamerINreality