Connie just sat there looking at Zoe's resignation letter and she suddenly realised that Zoe was serious about leaving the ED for good.
"Look, I know we haven't seen eye to eye but you are by far one of the best doctors I have ever had the pleasure of working with and I'm not the only one that depends on you. The staff here rave about you and you always have their best intentions at heart. I understand you've been here for a long time but that's because you enjoy it. If you could change your career right now and become anything you want to be, what would you choose?" Connie asked looking at Zoe as if pushing her to answer the question.
"I'd be a doctor." Zoe said as a small smile appeared on her face.
"I know it can feel lonely at times and even though I love Grace, I don't get to see her a lot but what makes that better is the feeling you get when you save someone's life and allow them to return to their loved ones." Connie said as she smiled at Zoe.
"Look, why don't you take the holiday leave and clear your head and come back when your ready because you and I both know you'll miss it after a while." Connie looked at Zoe nervous about her answer but Zoe's eyes were fixated on the clock.
"Okay." Zoe said as she realised that she loved her job and people relied on her to save them, not only the patients but the staff too.
"Thank you Zoe. You can leave early if you like, not much is going on." Connie said as she threw Zoe's resignation letter in the bin and started typing an email to Guy. Zoe grabbed her coat and a box of her things and reached the door.
"Zoe." Connie said causing her to turn around.
"I'm glad you changed your mind. I hope you have a nice break."

Zoe walked into reception and placed the box on the desk.
"Louise, could you forward my mail to my home address from now on please?" Zoe asked.
"Yeah, of course. Where are you off to on your holiday break then?" Louise asked.
"I don't know yet, wherever my credit card takes me."
"So you'll be travelling to the moon and back?" Noel asked knowing the large pay rate that Zoe gets.
"Very funny Noel. I'll see you both when I'm back." She said as she picked up the box and walked towards the exit where Tess and Charlie stood.
"It'll do you some good getting away from this place for a bit." Charlie said giving her a hug.
"I hope so." Zoe said as Tess was next to give her a hug.
"We are going to miss you. I can't remember a time when you weren't around." Tess said.
"That makes me feel old." Zoe said as they all laughed.
"I'll see you soon." Zoe said as she quickly made her way to her car, not liking to make a fuss over the fact that she would not be returning for a while.

Tess and Charlie made their way to reception and joined in the conversation about Zoe with Noel and Louise.
"What is it going to be like without Zoe?" Charlie asked.
"A lot quieter, that's for sure." Noel replied causing them all to laugh in reminiscence.
"I remember when me and Zoe went to my dad's old peoples home and sang to everyone." Noel said.
"I remember Zoe and Connie's huge fight right in front of our desk." Louise said.
"I'm going to miss her." Tess said and everyone nodded in agreement.
"Now who's going to send me a valentines day card?" Charlie asked.
"You got a valentines card from Zoe?" Noel said loudly in shock as Charlie nodded.
"Frame it my friend, I can only dream of that." Noel laughed as Max approached the desk.
"What's your favourite memory of Zoe?" Louise asked Max.
"What?" Max asked confused.
"Zoe's gone on some long extended holiday break and we were just saying how we were going to miss her." She replied.
"Where is she?" Max rushed his sentence.
"Getting in her car last I saw her." Charlie said as Max ran out of the ED.

"Zoe!" Max shouted as he saw Zoe by her car.
"Max I can't do the whole goodbye thing, please just let me go." She said trying to hold back the tears that had started to form.
"Why say goodbye when I could come with you?" Max asked as he quickly thought of this brilliant idea.
"No Max I can't do that to you. I need time to figure out who Zoe Hanna is, not Dr Zoe Hanna but the real Zoe."
"I can help you do that."
"No, no you can't. I have to do this on my own."
"What am I meant to do without you?" Max said as a tear rolled down his cheek which he quickly wiped away.
"Make a life, find someone who loves you, have a family. I don't know do everything that I couldn't give to you."
"That's the problem Zoe, I don't want to find anyone because I want you."
"I can't give you a family Max and I wouldn't forgive myself if I deprived you of that."
"Zoe, you are one hell of a doctor but when it comes to real life you are rubbish, don't you realise I don't want any of that. I just want you." He confessed grabbing her hand and pulling her closer to him. He crashed his lips against hers and Zoe responded but was the first to pull away.
"Max, you realise this doesn't change anything. I'm still leaving, I have to." Zoe said opening her car door.
"That might have not changed your mind but I was hoping this might." He said handing her a small box with a bow wrapped around it.
"Happy Birthday." He said as she pulled out a heart shaped pendant that was engraved with a Z and M on one side and on the other it said 'Mary Jane and Spider-Man.' Zoe let out a small gasp.
"Max, you didn't have to get me anything." She said as she smiled at the small box that he took out of her hands and placed around her neck.
"Max, it's beautiful." She said as he put it on her.
"Well then I guess it was worth all of those extra shifts." He said with huge grin on his face.
"Please stay Zoe." He quickly said as he grabbed her hand.
"Max... I can't. This is something I have to do. But I promise that I will be back."
"What am I meant to do until then? Don't you dare say move on because I don't want to be with anyone else accept you Zoe Hanna."
"Well then wait."
"What?"
"Wait for me Max." She said as she got into her car and drove off away from the ED slowly feeling the weight ease from her shoulders.
"I love you Zoe." She heard Max shout after her.
"I love you too." She said as tears streamed down her cheeks but she knew for the first time that she was doing the right thing.

THATS IT GUYS :( I am so grateful for all of your reviews and support, you're all amazing and I also read all of your stories which are thoroughly enjoyable. I might continue with this when Zoe returns but it's my last year at school so I'm going to have to work my ass off. HAPPY CASUALTY DAY AND ITS THE LAST EPISODE OF SERIES 28. If you would like to review I wold love to read them, so please R&R. I enjoyed writing this chapter so, so much. You are all amazing :)