For the first time in what felt like forever, I found myself in a place where everything I'd once wished for was suddenly possible—and terrifying.
The offer from Dr. Carter for the three-month fellowship in London sat in my inbox like a live wire. Every time I opened it, my heart raced. I'd dreamed of opportunities like this, of being taken seriously in the medical world, of having my name tied to research that actually mattered.
And yet, all I could think about was how it might change everything.
"You need to tell him," Sophie said the minute I brought it up during one of our late-night video calls.
James.
I hadn't told James yet.
"What if he thinks I'm being selfish?" I asked, nervously fidgeting with the edge of my blanket.
Sophie rolled her eyes. "You've supported him through everything. If anyone has the right to chase their dreams, it's you."
"But we're just… getting comfortable, you know? And I'm scared it'll mess things up."
She looked at me pointedly. "Do you want a life where your decisions revolve around avoiding what might mess up a relationship? Or do you want one where love meets you at the airport gate, cheering you on?"
She had a point. A painfully honest one.
So the next day, after rounds, I found James leaning against a tree outside the hospital, sipping from his usual thermos. He always waited for me there.
"Hey," I said, my voice sounding far more casual than I felt.
He smiled. "Hey. You okay?"
I sat down beside him on the bench. "I got offered something. A fellowship. In London."
His eyes widened. "London? That's incredible."
"I know. But it's three months. And… I wanted to tell you because it matters. You matter."
He was quiet for a moment, looking straight ahead. Then he said softly, "Do you want to go?"
"I do. But I'm scared of what it means—for us."
He turned to face me. "Charlotte, I've watched you grow from someone who doubted her every step to someone who commands her future. You're not invisible anymore. Not to anyone. Least of all to me."
My heart twisted, a mix of relief and something deeper.
"I don't want to lose you," I admitted.
"You're not going to. And if this is what you're meant to do, I'll be here when you get back."
That promise—simple and unembellished—hit harder than a thousand grand declarations.
We sat there in silence, letting it settle.
Later that evening, I ran into Elijah in the hallway. He was scribbling something into a notebook and didn't notice me at first.
"I heard about the London offer," he said without looking up.
"Word travels fast."
"I'd take it. If I were you."
"Would you?" I asked.
He looked up then, for once without sarcasm or swagger. "You're one of the best minds I've worked with. Don't play small just because it's comfortable."
It wasn't praise—it was a challenge. But this time, I took it.
I accepted the offer.
And with that, a new countdown began: to departure, to a temporary goodbye, to an adventure that would test not just my knowledge but everything I thought I knew about myself and the people I loved.
But I wasn't the only one facing changes.
Sophie texted me the next morning.
Sophie: Marco asked me to meet his family over the break. In Italy.
Me: WHAT?
Sophie: I know. It's huge. I'm scared. But also excited? Who am I???
Me: You're becoming unforgettable too.
Sophie: 😭😭😭
Everything around me was shifting. Our trio, once inseparable, now branching into three distinct journeys. But instead of being afraid, for once… I was ready.