Between Heartbeats

I switched the crash cart paddles knowing they would fail. My attending screamed for epi while my

ex stood frozen across the table. The patient's wife watched through glass.

I had thirty seconds to choose. Tell them I saw him sabotage the equipment during

our fight or let protocol play out and risk everything. His eyes met mine. Desperate.

Pleading. The monitor flatlined. My hand hovered over the intercom. He mouthed her name.

The woman he left me for. The one who'd just been wheeled into surgery next door.

If I exposed him now he'd lose his license. If I stayed silent this patient might

die. The attending turned to me. Your call intern. What would you do