Vanessa gives him a look that says, Cheers to that. “Only Little Miss Type A could make a group of doctors in training look like slackers. I don’t know how you do it. It’s like you never stop.”

“Trust me, I do,” Suhani says, even though they all know that’s not true.

“Yeah, right. You know, I’ve been wondering, where does it come from?” Vanessa asks. “Your need to keep going, going, going? People are rarely ever just born with that. And then you still seem to not be convinced that it’s enough, that you can take a break.”

“Oh, don’t you dare analyze me! I’m a shrink, too, remember?” Suhani waves a finger in her friend’s face, even though she’s right. It’s often a combination of things that makes someone this way, unable to be satisfied. And although people always jumped to Dad’s career as the driving force behind Suhani’s ambition, only those closest to her were aware that Mom played a bigger role, and nobody knew that what happened in med school also played a part. She would be damned if anything ever took her off track again.

The rest of dinner passes quickly. It’s refreshing to take a break from talking about the side effects of Prozac or teaching breathing exercises for a panic attack or reading about family therapy. For the first time in a long time, Suhani can pause that frantic voice in her head: Do your best. Work harder. Keep aiming higher. She finds solace in the bubbles of the champagne tickling her throat and camaraderie with her co-residents.

By the time the waiters are serving coffee and chocolate-covered strawberries on white bone china plates, Suhani is ready to go home and change into her red lacy lingerie.

“Let’s go,” she tells Zack as she takes one last sip of her black coffee, her fourth cup today.

“The program is almost over.” Zack motions for more dessert. “They just have to introduce the new faculty.”

“And you want to stay for that?” While she’s getting more tired every hour, Zack’s only gaining steam. Usually, she’s grateful Zack enjoys making small talk, but tonight she wishes he also needed time away from other people to recharge.

I get it, okay? You’re always tired. The doorman knows you’re tired, Zack said the other night during the argument about the psych consult. Within twenty minutes, he wrapped his arms around her and apologized. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry. I love you. They were back to themselves by bedtime.

Zack shrugs. “Might as well just wait it out. C’mon, all your co-residents are here. When do you ever get to relax with them? Or relax at all?”

“That’s true,” Suhani agrees, just as Vanessa says, “Yes! Stay!”