Tina stared out the kitchen window, her mind filled with thoughts of what might have been. Years ago, she had dreamed of becoming an open-heart surgeon, but life had intervened, forcing her into a marriage that asked her to be small. Now, after years of silence, that dream was stirring again—thanks to a radical friendship that lit a spark she thought was long extinguished.
But dreams come with a price, and when Michael gave her the choice—her marriage or her future—Tina knew what she had to do. Walking away wasn’t easy, raising a child alone even harder, but she had come too far to turn back.
Years later, in the sterile, bright light of an operating room, Tina stood steady, her hands saving the life of Michael’s sister. The gratitude in his eyes spoke volumes, but it was too late for second chances. She had found herself, and there was no going back.