Hi, Dr. Wilson,

I think it’s important that we meet to discuss the situation. After all the hard work I’ve done, I don’t think it would be fair for a past relationship to hold back my being considered for chief.

Before she can think anymore, she hits send. A wave of panic rises in her. She’s never sent an e-mail that direct before.

“Sorry,” she says to Dad. “I was just sending an e-mail to my program director.”

“When do you find out about chief?”

“Soon, I guess.” Suhani chews on her lips. “You know how these things go.”

Dad nods. “I was so shocked when I found out I was chief.”

Suhani’s heard this story a million times but she says, “Really?”

“I thought there was no way they’d pick the Indian resident for chief, especially back then. But my program director’s assistant—she really liked me—told me that she vouched for me in the meetings. It was a stressful job, making everyone’s schedules, accommodating requests, and doing my regular job, but I learned so much that year about administration and managing people. And I felt that I made some real changes.”

Usually, Suhani enjoys hearing about Dad’s experiences at work, the way he defied the odds to even get a residency spot in Atlanta, then graduated as a chief.

But today, her thoughts keep shifting to Zack.

A few minutes later, in typical Dad fashion, he ends his story with a series of grand statements. “So it really came down to the value of leadership. And fixing our broken mental health system from the inside.”

Dad glances at his Apple watch. “Oh! It really is late! Let’s both try to get some rest.”

As soon as she hears the click of Mom and Dad’s bedroom door shutting, her phone vibrates with a text message alert.

Zack!

I’m outside your parents’ door. Are you awake?

Suhani runs to the foyer. My husband, she thinks. My husband is here.

Through the beveled-glass door, she makes out brown wavy hair and glasses. She opens the door. Her husband is just standing there, as if it’s totally normal for him to show up here late at night, when they haven’t been talking.

“I can’t believe you’re really here. I’ve missed you,” Suhani says as she jumps into his arms and inhales the mint and rosemary of his Jack Black body wash. She didn’t realize until now how much she’s missed his smell.

Zack’s posture is stiff. “Sorry, I didn’t come here because of us.”

“Oh.” Suhani feels a drop in her chest.

“Is Anuj home?”

“He’s still out with friends,” Suhani says. “Why?”

“We have to go. And don’t say anything to your mom and dad yet.”