C8 Chapter 8: Tension in the Hallway

As Ethan walked toward the OR, a cold, tight knot settled in his stomach. It wasn’t just the surgery ahead—it was the weight of every unsaid word, every sideways glance, the unspoken tension that lingered between him and the senior staff. It had been building for weeks, and he could feel it pressing down on him more each day.

As he passed the small lounge, he caught sight of Dr. Marcus Shaw and Dr. Karen Liu, speaking in low voices. Without intending to, he slowed his pace, their conversation filtering through the thick hospital air. He couldn’t help but listen, even if he didn’t want to hear what was coming next.

“He’s too young for this position,” Shaw’s voice was dripping with bitterness, like it had been seasoned with years of resentment. “Someone needs to remind him of his place.”

Ethan’s chest tightened at the words. Too young. He’d spent years earning his place here, putting in more hours than anyone could count, sacrificing so much to get where he was. And still, they looked at him like a novice, like he didn’t belong. It was the same old story: the younger, capable surgeon who still had to fight for respect.

Dr. Liu’s voice was softer, careful, like she was treading on thin ice. “Careful, Marcus. If he keeps pulling off surgeries like this, we won’t have much of an argument. People are starting to notice him.”

The words hit Ethan like a slap to the face. He knew the game they were playing—everyone was waiting for him to falter. He could feel it in the halls, in the way they watched him like hawks, waiting for the smallest mistake. But hearing it out loud, so openly, stung more than he was ready to admit. It wasn’t just the criticism that hurt; it was the way they disregarded him. He wasn’t one of them. Not yet.

He clenched his jaw and swallowed the bitterness that rose in his throat. There was no time to let it show. He turned on his heel, walking briskly toward the OR, pushing the anger back down. No matter how many times they tried to knock him down, he wasn’t going to let them see it.

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Entering the OR

The moment Ethan stepped into the OR, everything shifted. The sterile brightness of the room, the hum of the machines, the soft rustle of the surgical team—everything was a sharp contrast to the darkness that had been building in him since he overheard the conversation. Here, he had control. Here, he could prove them wrong.

The room went silent the second he entered. His presence commanded it. His shoulders squared, his focus sharpening. The weight of the earlier conversation was still heavy, but it no longer mattered. The only thing that mattered now was the patient on the table.

“Vitals?” he asked, his voice cool and measured, carrying the authority of someone who had been in this room far too many times to show any sign of hesitation.

The anesthesiologist relayed the numbers, steady, professional. Ethan nodded, absorbing the information without a second thought. He didn’t have time to waste. Not today.

He glanced down at the patient, prepped and ready for surgery. There was a brief flicker of doubt, a twinge of uncertainty, but he pushed it aside. It wasn’t ideal—this surgery wasn’t fully planned, the patient’s condition wasn’t entirely clear—but he had no choice. He’d been in worse situations before. This wasn’t a time for hesitation.

“Let’s get to work,” he said, his voice steady, calm. It was a command, and the team moved immediately, falling into rhythm as he prepared himself.

The calmness was a façade, of course. Inside, his mind raced. The weight of the unfinished business from the hallway pressed down on him, but he couldn’t afford to let it show. He had to focus. He had to prove that he belonged here. Not just to the patient on the table, but to Shaw, to Liu, to everyone who still believed he was too young, too untested.

His hands moved with practiced precision as he made the first incision. The soft scent of antiseptic filled his nostrils. His mind quieted as he zeroed in on the task at hand. This is where I belong, he thought, pushing aside all the noise. This is where they’ll see.