Page 37 of Dr. Lillian Harrington
Rebecca’s eyes met hers, and for the first time, there was no guardedness in them. Just something soft, real.
"I am," Rebecca whispered back, her voice barely audible.
They lay there in comfortable silence, the weight of the moment settling between them. Lillian had never felt so close to Rebecca, so connected, and it made her heart swell with something she hadn’t been prepared for: hope.
The next morning, Lillian woke to the smell of coffee wafting through the air. She blinked, momentarily disoriented before the events of the previous night came rushing back. She smiled to herself, feeling the warmth of the memory settle over her.
She slipped out of bed, pulling on a shirt before making her way into the kitchen. There, standing at the counter, was Rebecca, holding two mugs of coffee and looking far more relaxed than Lillian had ever seen her.
"You made coffee?" Lillian asked, her voice laced with surprise.
Rebecca smirked, handing her a mug. "I did. Don’t expect it every time."
Lillian laughed, taking a sip. "I wouldn’t dare."
They stood there, sipping their coffee in a comfortable silence. It was easy, natural, like they had been doing this for years. And for a moment, Lillian allowed herself to believe that maybe this was the start of something real.
As they sat down at the small kitchen table, Lillian glanced over at Rebecca, studying her face. She looked different. Softer.There was a quietness to her that Lillian hadn’t seen before, and it made her heart ache with the hope that maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something new.
"You’re quieter than usual," Lillian said gently, placing her mug on the table. "Are you okay?"
Rebecca looked at her for a long moment, her eyes searching Lillian’s face. "I’m not used to this," she admitted softly, her fingers playing with the handle of her mug. "Staying. Being...here. With someone."
Lillian reached across the table, taking Rebecca’s hand in hers. "You don’t have to be used to it," she said quietly. "You just have to let it happen."
Rebecca’s gaze softened, and for the first time, Lillian saw the full extent of her vulnerability—the fear, the uncertainty, but also the desire for something more.
"I’m trying," Rebecca whispered.
And Lillian believed her.
The day had started beautifully, with Rebecca staying for breakfast, sharing soft conversation and moments of intimacy that felt like they were building toward something more. But as soon as they stepped foot into the hospital, things shifted.
It had started small—Rebecca’s usual guardedness creeping back in as they walked through the sterile halls. Lillian had expected that. They couldn’t exactly act like a couple in front of their colleagues, and she respected Rebecca’s need for professionalism. But then, things took a turn.
Lillian had just finished prepping for her next case when she saw Rebecca talking to someone near the nurses' station. At first, Lillian didn’t think much of it, until she noticed the womanRebecca was speaking with. Tall, with sharp features and an easy confidence, the woman was clearly someone important. The way she stood, the way Rebecca’s posture stiffened, it all screamedhistory.
Lillian’s heart sank.
She made her way over, intending to greet Rebecca with a casual smile, but as she got closer, Rebecca’s eyes flicked to her, and in an instant, her entire demeanor changed.
"Lillian," Rebecca said, her voice cool, detached. "This is Dr. Tessa Vaughn, a colleague from my fellowship days."
The woman,Tessa,smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "Nice to meet you, Lillian. I’ve heard a lot about you."
Lillian tried to smile, but the sudden shift in Rebecca’s tone threw her off-balance. This wasn’t the Rebecca she had spent the night with, the one who had opened up, who had shown her vulnerability. This was the cold, distant version of Rebecca—the one Lillian had hoped was starting to fade.
Before Lillian could respond, Rebecca spoke again, her voice clipped. "Lillian’s one of our newer interns. She’s...doing fine."
Doing fine? The words hit Lillian like a punch to the gut. Intern? That’s all she was now?
Rebecca’s eyes flicked between Lillian and Tessa, her expression unreadable. But Lillian could see it—the wall was back up, stronger than ever. Whatever progress they had made last night had vanished, and now, Rebecca was back to treating her like just another colleague. An average intern.
Lillian swallowed hard, her stomach twisting with disappointment. "I’ll let you two catch up," she said softly, turning away before either of them could respond.
As she walked down the hall, the sting of Rebecca’s words lingered. Last night had felt like a breakthrough, a step toward something real. But now, standing in the cold, impersonal hospital, it felt like everything had crumbled.
And Lillian couldn’t help but wonder if this was how it would always be: moments of vulnerability, followed by walls of ice.
