Love between two heartbeats

f perpetual tension, like a violin st

ty minutes. The repetitive motion of sponge against porcelain was meditation disguised as pro

tomach clench. He wasn't yelling yet. That would come later, around 11:23 PM, just as she'd predicted. For

, "your sister thinks she's

ce pale in the harsh fluorescent light, dark circles under her eyes that makeup couldn't quite conceal anymore

er younger brother had already learned to navigate their father's moods like a s

er family falls apart. While her mother cries herself to sleep every

remor in her hands from showing. She'd heard variations of this speech since she'd started

oved through the house like a ghost, her footsteps barely audible on the worn linoleum. She appeared in the kitchen doorwa

" her mother said so

ght of hope. As if Heaven's presence could somehow

d her eyes, the way she held her shoulders like she was carrying invisible weight. Margaret Wilson had been bea

et," her mother sa

kno

t you. We both do. You work

ear the rest of the sentence, couldn't face another conversation

le as tissue paper. "How was

disasters, about the way he'd looked at her like she might be the answer to questions he hadn'

carried the wistful quality of someone remembering a different version

rising, and Marcus's quieter responses. The familiar rhy

," Heaven said. "Ea

Margaret caught her arm. "Heaven? Your father... he loves

ng the calluses from years of carrying heavy trays, the wedding ring

dhood bedroom, Heaven wondered if love wa

ety certificates and perfect attendance records creating a shrine to someone who had never learned how to fail gracefully. Her desk held medical

ty. Just sixty seconds to feel the weight of carrying everyone's expectations, of being t

Marcus: Dad's getting loud. Mi

k: I'll handle i

When? You're alwa

an had implied earlier-that perhaps she was running from something inste

o. Through the thin walls, she could hear her father's voice reaching its crescendo, her mother's soft attempts at pacification, a

precision and control made everyone else feel slightly inadequate. But tonight, in this house where love felt like obligat

--------------------

perfectly manicured landscape like a testament to th

ike a museum exhibit than a home. The room itself was larger than most people's apartments-all dark wood and leather furn

more about performance evaluation. The evening had gone about as well as expected, which was to s

oicemails he hadn't listened to. He already knew what they'd say-variations on the theme of "app

ed his brooding. "Come in," he cal

ictoria Callahan was still beautiful at fifty-five, in the way that expensive maintenance and genetic lottery could achieve. Her blonde h

to one of the wingback chairs ne

looked tired beneath the perfectly applied makeup, and something in her post

logized to half the hospital staff and promised Dr. Richardson I'

quieter than usual, lacking its typical commandin

her rarely showed uncertainty, and when she did, it usually meant

am Hayes today," she continued. "He's

o Dr. Haye

r classmates." Victoria's fingers twisted her wedding ring, a nervous ha

ld settle in his stomach

ty of what you're training to do." Victoria leaned forward slightly. "Draven, your father and I have invested a great dea

r any of that," D

on the steel edge he remembered from childhood. "But success requires more than just showing up, darling. It re

lecture about appropriate behavior-she was afraid. Afraid that he would fail, that he would embarrass the family

did Dr. Hayes

medical school like it's some kind of social experiment rather than professional training." She paused, gathering

iagnosis. Draven felt his defensive instincts kick in

in pharmacology,"

cal training, who can help you focus on what matters." Victoria's relief was palpable. "Sh

trolled, but with something flickering beneath the surface. Something tha

more... academic commitment... align yourself with the serious students

oke. Shape up or face consequences that

's expectations?" Draven asked, though

l need to reconsider whether medical school is the right path for you. Th

t Draven heard it clearly. Fall in line or lose everything.

childhood spent learning to perform rather than live. The framed photographs stared down at him-g

son: Study group tomorrow? Wilson said she m

n again. Tomorrow, he could sit across from someone whose brilliance felt earned

t me in. And this t

hone aside and prepared for bed, it felt li

to precision, every light positioned to create maximum dramatic effect. It was beautiful in the way th

diver. Instead, he thought about the way Heaven Wilson had caught his falling textbook without thinking, the precision of her move

to be worthy of thirt

the most ambitious goal