“A week…” I repeat, staring blankly out the window.
A week to arrange a leave of absence, and if that’s not possible, to quit my position at the medical school. A week to leave everything behind and take a leap of faith into the unknown.
A week.
That’s it.
“Yes. Look, Jason,” Louisa says. “I know it’s not ideal. But sometimes life doesn’t give us perfect choices.”
I hold back a scoff. If anyone knows the truth of that statement, I do.
To leave my teaching position, at least for the remainder of this semester.
To leave…
Fuck.
To leave Angie.
Angie.
But I’ll be back. And I won’t need my teaching position if I’m a surgeon again.
To hold the scalpel back in my hand… To be a healer again…
“I’ll do it,” I say. “Tell Gita I’m in. I have money, and if it’s more than I have, I’ll get it somehow. I’ll take out a loan. A mortgage on my home. I’ll make it work.”
“Good enough,” Louisa says. “I’ll email you the details tomorrow. In the meantime, get a flight booked to Bern.”
“I will.”
As soon as I end the call, I grab my leather jacket and walk over to Angie’s where I pound on the door.
She opens the door, a look of astonishment on her face. “Jason, what is it? I have to get to campus.”
I grab her, kiss her lips, and then break away.
“Come with me,” I say. “Come with me to Switzerland.”
She tilts her head slightly, eyes wide. “What?”
I wrap my arms around her waist, giving her a toothy grin. “The surgery for my hand. Long story short, I can get it done right now if I go to Switzerland. I’d have to wait a long time before they’ll allow it to happen here.” I cast my gaze to the ground. “If the board allows it at all.”
She stands there blinking for a moment before her gorgeous lips finally part.
“But I have school… You have school.”
I shrug. “I’ll take a leave of absence. And you can take a semester off. They’ll need me to stay in Switzerland for a while to follow up on the procedure. But school will be waiting for you when you get back.” I cup her cheek. “You’re a good student. I’ll bet you could hunker down once you get back and still graduate on time.”
Before she can speak again, I reel her in for another kiss.
She breaks her lips from mine. “You’re talking about me going away with you. On a trip. We’re not even…” She blushes. “We’re not even official. We… We can’t be. You’d lose your job.”
I laugh at that. “I don’t need my job as a professor if I’m back in surgery. And no one will care if a surgeon is dating a medical student.”
She pouts her lips. “But still, Jason. Switzerland.”
“It’s beautiful. You’ll love it. I went while I was a fellow.”
