Marrying the Man in the Dark

Cherise’s eyes shut tightly, her features etched with pain. “Your sister’s ordeal mirrors my mother’s in many ways. When I operated on her, I took an extra step… and that’s why she survived.”

“Five years ago, when my mother passed, she urged me not to shoulder blame. She insisted it was her choice.”

“But I couldn’t forgive myself… Because at the time, I entertained the notion of taking that extra step, but… I faltered. I was gripped by fear… Fear that one additional step might jeopardize my mother’s life.”

“But it was that one step… and my mother couldn’t hold on…”

Cherise locked these memories away, never daring to share them with anyone

In the years following, each midnight reverie would stir her from slumber, tears staining her pillow in remembrance of her mother.

Subsequently, Cherise crossed paths with Dr. Keeples, Lermille Hospital’s director.

His sage advice resonated deeply with her: the gravest mistake a doctor could make was to operate on a loved one without absolute conviction.

Such a decision, he cautioned, would yield a lifetime of remorse.

Inspired by his counsel, Cherise made the pivotal choice to join Lermille Hospital’s ranks.

festering wound, a relentless source of

paper because of

for

anticipate that her paper would become Gwenn’s weapon

relentless actions against Cherise stemmed from

the onset, she derided Cherise for her reluctance to perform surgery, and

Cherise’s aspirations and

Cherise in his arms, his gentle touch a balm to her tormented soul. “It’s all in the past, my love. There’s

I would have

stilled momentarily as she wept.

at Damien through tear–blurred eyes,

she, like me, knows the

her lips trembling in

a deep breath, Damien tenderly brushed her lips with a kiss. “Zachary informed. me that when you operated

mother by day and burned the midnight oil alone, sleeping a mere few hours a night.

intent was solely to grant your loved ones more time, to vanquish their illness.”

ailment had never