Finding a way back to her!

Freen Sarocha was meticulously wrapping up her day at the hospital. Her workspace was as pristine and methodical as her mind—charts neatly stacked, reports finalized with razor-sharp efficiency. She glanced at the clock, calculating how much time she’d need to review tomorrow’s schedule before heading home. That’s when her phone buzzed on the corner of her desk. The name on the screen: Nam. Freen sighed. This wasn’t a scheduled call, and with Nam, that usually meant trouble.

She picked up. “Nam. Talk quickly. I have work.”

“Aw, come on, Freen,” Nam replied, her voice entirely too chipper. “Is that how you greet your favorite hospital manager?”

Freen’s tone remained flat. “If you want compliments, find someone else.”

“Wow. Your charm really knows no bounds,” Nam teased. “One day, Freen. One day, you’ll surprise me and say something warm and human.”

“I save lives daily,” Freen said curtly. “That’s human enough. Why are you calling?”

“Right, right, straight to business,” Nam said, though her tone stayed playful. “Fine. Let me give you an update. The Bangkok branch is running smoothly—thanks to me, of course. Patient numbers are steady, we’ve upgraded the pediatric ward, and guess what? I even signed off on adding some fish to the lobby aquarium.”

“Your efficiency continues to underwhelm me,” Freen deadpanned.

Nam laughed. “You know, I’m convinced you have a sense of humor. You just keep it locked away for emergencies. Speaking of emergencies, though—this is serious.”

Freen leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing. “Go on.”

“There’s a patient here, Freen,” Nam said, her voice softening. “A little boy. He’s only four. His case is critical—he has a rare congenital heart defect. He needs surgery immediately, but none of our surgeons here feel confident enough to handle it.”

Freen’s chest tightened ever so slightly, though her tone remained calm. “Details?”

Nam quickly outlined the boy’s condition, describing how complex and delicate the operation would be. “We’ve consulted with every top surgeon in Thailand,” Nam continued. “But no one here can do it. Freen, you’re the best there is. This kid needs you.”

Freen remained silent, her gaze fixed on the glowing city skyline outside her window.

“Freen,” Nam said gently, sensing her hesitation, “I know you don’t want to come back to Bangkok. I know why you left. But this isn’t about the past. This is about saving a life.”

Freen tapped her pen against the desk, her thoughts swirling. She hadn’t set foot in Bangkok in a decade, hadn’t wanted to face the memories tied to the city she once called home. But Nam’s words gnawed at her. A four-year-old boy, his life hanging in the balance. Freen had built her career on her ability to save even the most fragile of hearts—how could she turn away now?

“Send me the case file,” Freen said finally, her voice steady but reluctant. “I’ll review it tonight.”

“Freen…” Nam’s voice was filled with relief. “Thank you. I know this isn’t easy for you.”

“It’s not about ease,” Freen replied matter-of-factly. “It’s about responsibility. I’ll arrange my travel once I’ve assessed the situation.”

“Got it,” Nam said. Then, in true Nam fashion, she added with a teasing lilt, “And hey, look at you, being all heroic and selfless. I’m almost impressed.”

“Hang up, Nam,” Freen said bluntly.

Nam laughed. “Okay, okay. I’ll email you the details. And Freen? It’ll be okay. You’re stronger than you think.”

The line went silent as the call ended. Freen set her phone down carefully, her mind already racing through logistics and surgical plans. She told herself this was just another case, just another challenge in her career. But as she stared out at the glittering lights of New York, she couldn’t ignore the heaviness in her chest.

She was going back to Bangkok. Back to the city she had walked away from, back to the shadows of memories she had spent ten years trying to forget. And as much as she tried to keep her emotions in check, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this trip would test her in ways no surgery ever had.