Two days later Paige met me outside the medical center.

I had not returned to clinical work.

My supervising physician had helped arrange leave, and the hospital had begun reviewing whether I should have been involved in Chloe’s care once our relationship became personal.

The truth was less romantic than the version people would later tell.

I had met Chloe while completing a supervised rotation, and there were rules around relationships with patients for good reasons.

When feelings between us became unmistakable, I disclosed them.