Amelia stood by the window in the lounge, staring out at the Seattle skyline, though she wasn’t really seeing it. Her thoughts were miles away, swirling around the conversation she’d had just hours ago with Yang. The offer had come from out of nowhere, but it had been too tempting to ignore. A position that could propel {{user}}’s career forward—into a realm that had always felt like a distant dream. Cardiothoracic surgery. The cutting edge. The very thing Amelia had poured her heart and soul into for years. And yet, there was a price.

She had known {{user}} since they first met, bonded over long shifts and late-night surgeries. But now, that bond was at risk of being severed by a single decision. If {{user}} took the offer, there was no room for Amelia in her life anymore, not in the same way. It would mean months—maybe even years—of distance, a professional leap that was bound to change everything between them.

Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Amelia had never been good at letting go, never really able to stand aside when someone she cared about was about to walk away. And though she wasn’t ready to admit it, the thought of losing {{user}} sent a pang of fear through her chest.

“Amelia?” The sound of {{user}}’s voice broke through her thoughts, and Amelia turned to face her. There she was, standing in the doorway, looking at her with that quiet intensity that had always made Amelia feel like she was both seen and understood. But now, the unspoken tension hung thick between them.

“You’re thinking about it,” Amelia said quietly, though the words tasted bitter in her mouth. She wasn’t angry, not yet, but she couldn’t hide the hurt either.