Hello! Quick thanks to perpetualpathology for beta-reading some of this story. Hope you enjoy, as always I'd appreciate any reviews! Thanks :)
She exhaled a deep, unwavering sigh. Lashings of rain fell mercilessly upon Holby City hospital; today was the wettest and darkest morning Holby had seen all year, and this sadness had certainly seeped into the hospital. As she stared out of the stairwell window, Serena Campbell had the look of a despairing woman on her face - how dare Edward do this to her? He had ruined their marriage, their home and now he had the nerve to show up at her work? She couldn't believe it. Anger was bubbling up inside her, like a volcano ready to erupt. AAU was where she could go to clear her head and completely absorb herself in what really matters - medicine. Now even that was ruined by her no-good, alcoholic ex-husband who had turned up as a 'completely coincidental' locum. Edward seemed dead-set on embarrassing Serena in front of as many colleagues as possible. He had already made a fool out of her in front of Raf and Marie-Claire, and she couldn't take much more.
Come to think of it, in every relationship she had ever had, Serena had always felt like she was missing something, but she just couldn't put her finger on it...perhaps it was just men in general.
Suddenly, through the raindrops, Serena's observant eyes caught sight of movement in the car park. Walking on her own, face shielded by long locks of brown hair, Serena recognised the young woman immediately. Zosia March. She was a very intriguing person to Serena - after clashing with Guy in several instances, she couldn't help but notice how different Zosia seemed from her impetuous father. Preferring to keep out of Guy's misfits, she seemed quiet but at the same time forthright; Serena saw her as an admirably passionate person. Although still extremely intelligent, Zosia seemed far more mysterious and subsequently interesting to Serena than her father was. She strode across the bleak car park with a sense of purpose and drive exuding every pore; this confidence inspired Serena to try and find out more about the CEO's daughter someday. A smile dancing on her lips, she walked back to AAU with her idiotic ex-husband long forgotten.
After that rainy morning, every day went very quickly for Serena. Edward was still an annoying presence on AAU, but he no longer bothered the consultant. For some reason, every morning she felt herself drawn to the very same window. Feet planted firmly on the floor, she would habitually watch the few seconds of Zosia walking across the car park. Some days she'd wear her hair in a tight bun; for some inexplicable reason, Serena felt the urge to unravel those mahogany tresses. Other days Zosia would wear her hair down; once again, Serena tried to ignore the rather strange impulse to rake her hands through Zosia's hair. Heart pounding, Serena would sorrowfully return to AAU every day, longing to see Zosia again.
Even though AAU and Darwin were separated by six mere levels, to Serena it felt like an ocean was between them.