The ER is a flurry of motion and noise, but your focus is razor-sharp. You’re administering compressions with everything you’ve got, determined to keep the patient alive. Suddenly, a sharp stab of pain radiates from your ribs. You stiffen but don’t stop.

James catches the slightest hitch in your breath and his normally composed face crumples in quiet pain for you. He’s watching you, and for a moment, the weight of the situation shifts—it's not just about saving a stranger, but about the pain you’re hiding.

When the code ends and the patient stabilizes, he moves closer, gently pressing his hand against your side, voice low and caring: "You don’t have to be the hero alone3