The honesty in those words cut through Evie’s anger like a blade.
“I went back to therapy,” Maggie continued. “After years of telling myself I was fine. And my therapist asked me what I was protecting by keeping everyone at arm’s length. And I realized—I wasn’t protecting my career or my reputation. I was protecting myself from ever feeling that helpless again. And I almost jeopardised any shred of happiness to protect myself from feeling.”
“And now?” Evie asked.
Maggie’s voice dropped to barely above a whisper. “Now I’m choosing differently. Or trying to. I’m choosing honesty over strategy. Vulnerability over control. You over safety. If you’ll let me try.”
Evie set her water glass down, hands trembling slightly. “That’s a pretty speech, Maggie. But I need more than words.”
“I know,” Maggie said.
She shifted closer—not touching, but near enough that Evie could see the fine lines around her eyes, the exhaustion she’d been carrying, the hope she was trying so hard not to show.
“I love you,” Maggie said simply. “I’m in love with you. I have been for a while. And I know I fucking hurt you. I know I chose fear over courage. I know I requested that transfer to protect myself as much as you. But I’m done running, Evie. I’m done pretending that control is the same thing as strength.”
Evie felt tears prick at her eyes. She’d imagined hearing those words a hundred different ways. But hearing them like this—raw and unguarded and terrified—hit differently.
“I love you too, even if you’ve driven me a little… crazy” Evie said, and she watched Maggie’s breath catch. “Even though you’re impossible. Even though you hurt me. Even though I have no idea if you’re going to panic and push me away again the first time things get hard.”
“I might,” Maggie admitted. “I’m still figuring out how to do this without my old patterns. But I’m trying to do everything I can to learn what it means to love someone without trying to manage them.”
Evie reached out slowly, giving Maggie time to pull away. When she didn’t, Evie took her hand.
“I don’t need you to be perfect,” Evie said. “I need you to be honest. To tell me when you’re scared instead of just shutting down. To trust that I’m strong enough to handle your mess.”
Maggie’s fingers tightened around hers. “I’m a fucking disaster sometimes, you know.”
Evie smiled despite herself. “I know. So am I.”
“You’re not,” Maggie said. “You’re brave and honest and you stay when it would be easier to leave. You’re everything I’m not. And you’re absolutely beautiful.”
“That’s not true,” Evie said firmly. “You’re brave too. You just hide it under all that control. But I’ve seen you, Maggie. In Daisy’s room. In the ER. In that on-call room. I’ve seen the woman you are when you stop trying to manage everything.”
Maggie’s voice broke. “I don’t know if I can be her all the time.”
“I’m not asking you to be,” Evie said. “I’m asking you to try. And to let me help you when it’s hard.”
They sat like that for a long moment, hands clasped, the space between them finally starting to feel less like distance and more like possibility.
“So what now?” Evie asked finally.
Maggie took a breath, visibly gathering herself. “Now we talk about reality. Because I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep.”
“Okay,” Evie said. “Reality.”
“The committee gave me thirty days leave,” Maggie said. “And a six-month restriction. You have to stay on Doctor Patel’sservice for at least that long. We can’t work together. We can’t be public about this at the hospital.”
“I know all that,” Evie said.
“But we can see each other,” Maggie continued. “Outside of work. Carefully. And in six months, when the restriction lifts, we can figure out next steps together.”
“Six months of hiding, huh?” Evie said quietly.
“Six months of being together while following the rules they set,” Maggie corrected gently. “It’s not ideal. But it’s what we have. I think it’s the best way.”
Evie studied her. “And you’re okay with that? With the uncertainty? With not being able to control the outcome?”
Maggie smiled faintly. “No. I fucking hate it. But I’m learning that some things are worth the uncertainty.”
