University College London Hospitals - 1999
"...ok, I'll see you tonight. Love you." Julie said.
She put her phone in the pocket as the light flashing of an ambulance pulled up to the E.R. entrance, attracting her attention.
Paramedics rushed out in no time, carrying a stretcher with a patient.
She threw the empty coffee cup in the bin and glanced over as the new patient was brought in. She immediately met the group at the entrance, taking charge of the case.
"Hi Gus, what do we have?"
"Hello Dr. Turner! Male, mid-70s, presenting with severe chest pain, diaphoresis, and shortness of breath. Blood pressure dropping, pulse weak." he reported as they ran through the corridor.
Julie nodded, her mind already formulating a plan of action. When she took a better look at the man under the oxygen mask, she realized she knew him. She knew him very well.
"Alright, let's get him on a monitor, start IV access, and get a 12-lead EKG. Time is critical."
The team swiftly followed her orders, moving with practiced efficiency. Dr. Julie Elizabeth Turner might have been a young doctor, but everyone acknowledged she was a very talented one.
She leaned over the man, assessing his condition.
"Prepare for a possible STEMI. Notify cardiology, and have the cath lab on standby."
As the team worked, Julie stayed close to her patient, monitoring his vital signs and directing the administration of medications.
"Stay with us, Bernie. You're in good hands. We're going to take care of you." She kindly reassured him, caressing his hair.
Bernie's eyelids fluttered weakly as he struggled to stay conscious. He stared at her eyes trying to whisper her name.
"Yes, Bernie, it's me… Julie. But I need you to stay calm for me now. Would you?" she asked him, with all her gentleness.
Julie noticed his distress and leaned in closer, her voice firm but reassuring.
"You're doing great. Just focus on breathing. We're going to stabilize you," she said smoothly.
The med crew kept working seamlessly, administering oxygen, medications, and preparing for potential interventions.
Suddenly, Bernie's monitor alarmed, indicating a dangerous arrhythmia.
"He's going into VTach! Get the defibrillator ready!" she ordered.
The team sprang into action, clearing the area as Dr. Turner positioned the paddles.
"Charging... Clear!"
She delivered a shock, and Bernie's body jerked momentarily before settling.
The monitor showed a return to sinus rhythm and Julie exhaled a sigh of relief.
"Let's stabilize him and get him to the cath lab. Stat!"
"Dr. Turner…the patient's family is in the waiting area."
"Thank you Grace. I'm going now."
She stepped into the dimly lit waiting area, her heart heavy with the weight of the news she was about to deliver. The fact that she hadn't seen them for three years was not helping at all. Her gaze falled upon Rhoda and Patrick seated side by side, their faces etched with worry and anticipation.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the difficult conversation ahead. With determined steps, she approached the duo.
"Hello Rhoda, Patrick... May I speak with you for a moment about Bernie's condition?" she started.
Rhoda looked up, her eyes filled with concern, while Patrick's expression shifted from apprehension to surprise at the sight of Julie.
"Julie! How is he?" Rhoda asked her.
She offered a gentle smile, even if her eyes betrayed a hint of sorrow.
"We're taking care of him but I'm afraid I have some difficult news to share. May I sit next to you?" she asked.
Rhoda nodded as her grip on her son's hand tightened, her eyes brimming with apprehension.
"What's happened?"
Julie hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts before delivering the news.
"Bernie suffered a severe heart attack. We're doing everything we can for him, but his condition is critical."
A heavy silence settled over the trio as Rhoda and Patrick processed the shock of Julie's words.
"Is... is he going to make it?" asked Patrick, with a trembling voice.
Julie's heart ached at the pain in his voice, knowing all too well the emotional turmoil he must be experiencing.
"We've taken him to the catheterization lab for emergency intervention. He's receiving the best care possible, but it's still touch-and-go."
Rhoda clung to her son, seeking comfort in their shared anguish.
"Can we see him?" he asked.
Julie nodded, her expression filled with empathy for their distress.
"Yes, of course. I'll arrange for you both to visit him as soon as possible."
Patrick looked up at Julie, his eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and sorrow.
"Thanks Jules... for everything."
She offered a sad smile, her heart heavy with the weight of the situation and their past.
"I'll keep you updated on his condition as we know more. And if there's anything you need or any questions you have, please don't hesitate to ask." she added before leaving and returning to her ward.
The hospital corridor stretched out before her, its sterile walls offering little solace. Each step she took seemed to echo with the weight of the past.
As the few memories she had of that night resurfaced again, she started panicking and she found refuge in the locker-room.
An autumn night. Their hands entwined.
Their smiles. Their laughs. Their kisses.
The sparkling ring on her finger.
The anticipation to make the great announcement to her parents.
An ambulance moved away with the lights off as they arrived at her parents' house.
The crowd of neighbors standing outside.
Her standing frozen in the doorway.
Her heart pounding in her chest as she took in the scene before her.
The heavy air in the house and the oppressive silence, broken only by the sound of Angela sobbing with abandon in her husband's embrace.
The distant ticking of the clock.
Her mother seated on the couch, her expression vacant and distant as Carol gently offered her a cup of tea.
Tim moved around the room while trying to get in touch with Teddy, before he could board on his flight to Cape Town.
Her breath caught in her throat as the realization dawned - something was terribly wrong. And then she saw it - the look in her brother's eyes, the grim set of his jaw - and her worst fears were confirmed.
Her father was gone.
The shock hit her like a physical blow, stealing the breath from her lungs and leaving her reeling in its wake. She staggered backward, her vision blurring with tears as the world spun out of control around her.
For a moment, she felt as though she'd been plunged into a bottomless abyss, a black hole of despair and grief from which there was no escape. The walls of her reality crumbled away, leaving her adrift in a sea of uncertainty and pain.
The last thing she remembered before collapsing was Patrick trying to grab her before she could fall to the ground.
And then nothing.
Only darkness, both in her eyes and in her heart.
At that moment, she heard someone open the door and she reopened her eyes, gasping for air.
She went to the toilet and refreshed her face before coming back to work. Her shift was not over yet and she needed to stay focused.
That night, before going home, she couldn't help but make a detour to the IC unit to check on Bernie.
As she turned the corner, her heart skipped a beat at the sight of Patrick, standing at the end of the hall.
Time seemed to stand still as their eyes met, a silent recognition passing between them like an electric current sparking to life.
He was handsome. As always.
His face was framed by a tousled mane of golden-blond hair. His chiseled jawline, sculpted with angular precision, hinted at a strength tempered by refinement. The high cheekbones added a touch of aristocratic elegance to his visage. His straight nose, neither too prominent nor too delicate, with its flawless symmetry enhancing his overall attractiveness.
His eyes were a piercing shade of cerulean blue, their depths betraying a hidden intensity that captivated all who met his gaze.
For a fleeting moment, Julie found herself transported back to a time long gone, a time when their love burned bright and their futures seemed intertwined with the promise of forever. But reality crashed over her like a wave, pulling her back to the present with ruthless clarity.
Patrick's gaze held a mixture of emotions - surprise, apprehension, perhaps even a hint of longing. She could feel the weight of his scrutiny, the unspoken questions hanging in the air like a heavy fog.
"Patrick," she greeted him, her voice barely above a whisper, yet carrying the weight of years of unspoken regret.
"Jules," he replied.
"I popped in to see how he was doing before going home."
"Thank you. Doctors said we have to wait. And keep hoping."
"I know. Surgery went well, but it's not out of the woods yet. Next forty-eight hours will be decisive. But he has the best team taking care of him."
"And he has you as a special guardian angel. Isn't that it?"
Julie smiled at him. He was still the same charmer…
"I'm just doing my work."
"Are you? I didn't see other doctors coming in to check on their patients…"
"He's not just any patient," she shyly confessed.
"Or perhaps you're not just any doctor."
She smiled again. Yes. She smiled. Twice in a row. What was going on with her?
Their conversation was brief, polite pleasantries masking the undercurrent of tension that simmered beneath the surface. But as they exchanged words, Julie couldn't shake the feeling that the past was clawing its way back to the present, demanding to be acknowledged, to be reckoned with.
As she turned to leave, Patrick watched her go, his heart heavy with the weight of what could have been, what should have been.
In that fleeting moment, amidst the sterile corridors and fluorescent lights, Julie Turner knew that what happened three years before was something no longer content to remain buried - it was alive, pulsating with a fervent intensity that refused to be ignored.
On her drive home, the past hovered at the edges of her consciousness, whispering secrets long buried, secrets that threatened to unravel the carefully constructed facade of her present reality.
The door swung open and Julie stepped into the warm embrace of her home.
"Hi Mum!"
The scent of a home-cooked meal greeted her, instantly soothing her tired mind. She smiled as she saw her mother bustling about the kitchen.
"Julie, dearest, you're home!" Shelagh welcomed her.
She rushed forward, enveloping her daughter in a tight hug. Julie returned the embrace, feeling a sense of calm wash over her in her mother's arms.
"It's good to be home, Mummy."
They released each other, their eyes reflecting the deep bond they shared.
"Dinner's almost ready. Go get a shower, darling. I'll call you when it's time to eat." Shelagh told her.
Julie nodded gratefully, heading toward her bedroom to freshen up.
As the warm water cascaded down her tired body, Julie leaned against the wall of the shower, closing her eyes and letting out a heavy sigh. The soothing sensation of the water helped to wash away the day's stress, but it couldn't erase the weight of the decisions weighing on her mind.
She couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to talk to her mother about Bernie Mullucks. Julie knew that despite what had happened between her and Patrick, her mother was a longtime friend of the Mullucks.
The thought of broaching the subject filled her with apprehension. It would inevitably lead to discussions about Patrick, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to confront those emotions just yet.
With a resigned sigh, Julie rinsed the shampoo from her hair and turned off the water. Stepping out of the shower, she wrapped herself in a fluffy towel and stood before the mirror, her reflection staring back at her.
Maybe she would have talked to her about it another time, but not that night. The day had already given her too many emotions and she knew that for her sake it was not the case to go further.
When she returned to the kitchen, the table was set, and Shelagh was putting the finishing touches on a delicious meal.
As they sat down to eat, Shelagh shared stories of her day spent looking after her youngest nephews. Julie listened intently, chuckling at the anecdotes her mother recounted.
"Sounds like you had your hands full today."
"You have no idea, darling. Thomas and Alex are the exact copies of Teddy." she said, referring to her son's 5 years old twins.
Julie smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her as she found some relief in her mother's happiness.
As they enjoyed their meal, Julie began to share stories of her own day at the hospital, recounting the highs and lows of patient care even if she purposefully didn't say a word about the Mullucks.
Shelagh listened attentively, her eyes shining with pride at her daughter's dedication and compassion. The same she could once see in her husband's eyes.
Eventually, dinner drew to a close, and Shelagh started to clear the table. Julie offered to help, but her mother kindly stopped her putting her hand on her shoulder.
"You go rest, sweetheart. You've had a long day."
"So did you, Mummy. You deserve some rest as well. C'mon, we'll be faster together!" she suggested leaning in to kiss her mother's cheek.
Shelagh nodded, feeling grateful for her daughter's understanding and loving care.
Once they were done, mother and daughter bid each other goodnight with a tender hug.
That night, Julie struggled to fall asleep even though she was really tired.
She couldn't help but think about Patrick, wondering if perhaps, just perhaps, there was still a chance for redemption, for reconciliation, for a future untainted by the shadows of yesterday.