Dr. Carter hurried into the airport, clutching her purse close. Her heart pounded. Every second counted — there was a patient waiting for her in Santa Monica, and without her, his life was in danger. When she saw the short line at the ticket counter, relief washed over her.
But just as it was finally her turn, disaster struck. Her purse slipped from her hand and fell open, spilling everything across the floor — her wallet, ID cards, coins rolling away, even a stethoscope.
“Oh no, not now…” she muttered, scrambling on her knees to gather her things.
At that exact moment, Michael and his girlfriend Dana walked up quickly to the counter.
“I need two tickets to Santa Monica, please,” Michael said, pushing forward with his credit card already in hand.
The ticket agent, Luke, glanced nervously between Michael and the woman still crouched on the floor. “We only have two seats left,” he said cautiously, his eyes flicking toward Dr. Carter.
Dr. Carter looked up, breathless, clutching her ID. “Wait, please! I need one of those seats. I’m a doctor — I have an emergency.”
Michael frowned, annoyed. “We got here first. The tickets are clearly ours.” He shoved his credit card across the counter.
Dana looked at the woman on the floor, her face pale with desperation. Her voice softened. “Honey, maybe we should let her take it. It sounds important.”
But Michael snapped, “We’re not changing our plans.” He turned to Dr. Carter coldly. “Life’s tough. Everyone has problems.” Then back to Luke: “Finish the booking.”
Luke hesitated but obeyed, printing out the last two boarding passes.
Dr. Carter stood up slowly, defeated. She forced a small smile at Dana. “Thank you for at least understanding.” Then she turned back to Luke. “Is there any other flight to Santa Monica? Anything at all?”
Luke typed furiously on his keyboard. “I’m checking… oh.” His face fell. “I’m so sorry, Doctor. Someone just grabbed the very last seat on another flight. But I can put you on standby.”
“Please do,” Dr. Carter whispered.
As Michael strutted off with the tickets, Dana glanced back at the doctor with guilt heavy in her chest.
On the way to their gate, Dana couldn’t keep silent anymore. “Michael, how can you be so indifferent? She said she needed to save someone’s life.”
Michael scrolled on his phone, unconcerned. “Dana, we can’t fix everyone’s problems. We have our plans, and we stick to them. That’s life.”
Her jaw tightened. “Sometimes I wonder if you think about anyone but yourself.”
“Stop being dramatic,” he muttered.
Just then, they bumped into another couple. Michael snapped, “Watch where you’re going!”
The couple quickly apologized. Dana’s heart sank deeper at his rudeness.
On the plane, Dana’s uneasiness only grew. Their seats were in row 13, and as they settled in, she noticed a flickering light above.
“Michael,” she whispered, “do you hear that sound? Something’s wrong with the engine.”
“It’s normal. Stop worrying,” Michael muttered, flipping open a magazine.
She glanced nervously around. “Row 13… after the way you acted earlier… I feel like karma’s coming for us.”
“Superstitious nonsense,” he scoffed.
Just then, the plane jolted violently. People screamed as bags flew from overhead. A heavy suitcase plummeted straight toward Michael’s head but missed him by inches, slamming into the floor.
“Whoa! That was close!” Michael laughed, brushing it off.
Dana stared at him. “You think this is funny? That bag could have killed you!”
The captain’s voice cut through the chaos: “Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seatbelts. We’re experiencing turbulence.”
After what felt like forever, the plane steadied. Dana’s hands were still trembling, but Michael flagged down a flight attendant.
“Excuse me,” he said smugly. “That suitcase almost killed me. I think some complimentary drinks are in order.”
The attendant forced a polite smile. “Of course, sir. I’ll bring them.”
Dana gaped at him. “Are you serious? You’re asking for free drinks after all that?”
Moments later, two martinis arrived. Michael raised his glass with a grin. “To surviving the wild ride.” He gulped it down in one shot, then reached for Dana’s untouched glass.
“You’re not drinking yours?”
“No,” she said firmly. “I’ve had enough scares today.”
Michael shrugged and downed it himself. But suddenly, his eyes bulged. He clutched his throat, face turning red. He couldn’t breathe — the olive had gone down wrong.
Dana leapt up. “Michael!” She wrapped her arms around his waist and thrust upward. Once, twice, three times — until finally the olive shot out of his mouth and bounced against the seat in front.
Passengers gasped, then sighed in relief.
“You okay?” Dana panted.
Michael coughed. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just no more olives.”
Her voice sharpened. “Michael, you need to be careful. You already have a heart condition.”
He smirked. “It’ll take more than an olive to bring me down.”
Not long after, a burning smell drifted through the cabin. Dana sniffed the air nervously. “Michael… do you smell that?”
“Yeah. Probably just the oven in the galley.”
Her fear grew. “We’re on a plane. If something’s burning, that’s serious!”
Soon smoke billowed from a small compartment. A flight attendant rushed with a fire extinguisher, but Michael pushed forward. “Let me try.”
He sprayed until the fire was out. Passengers clapped, and Michael puffed his chest. “See? Under control. No need to panic when you have me around.”
Dana whispered harshly, “You helped, yes. But why do you always need to show off?”
He just grinned, soaking in the attention.
Later, Dana’s voice trembled as she revealed something she’d been holding in. “Michael… I got a job offer. In another city.”
His head whipped around. “A different city? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know how. And after everything today… maybe it’s a sign. Michael, this is a huge opportunity for me.”
His face hardened. “You can’t just leave. Especially not me.”
“It’s my career. I need to think about myself for once.”
“What about us? Our plans?”
“I’ve always supported you. Why can’t you support me now?”
He crossed his arms. “Because you’re throwing away everything we’ve built.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “If what we’ve built can’t survive change, maybe it wasn’t strong at all.”
“Then take the job, and we’re over,” he warned.
She stared at him in silence, heart breaking.
As the plane began its descent, Dana whispered, “Michael… this flight showed me something. I need someone who understands me.”
His eyes narrowed. “So you’re breaking up with me?”
“Yes,” she said quietly but firmly. “I can’t do this anymore.”
For a moment, Michael’s face twisted with anger. Then he clutched his chest, groaning. “Dana… my heart…”
Her eyes widened. “Michael! Are you okay?”
Suddenly, he burst out laughing. “Got you. Did you really think I’d have a heart attack because you broke my heart?”
Her face flushed red with fury. “That’s not funny!” She pushed past him. “You’re unbelievable!”
But then, just as he moved to follow her, Michael’s smirk vanished. He grabbed his chest again, stumbling. This time, the pain was real.
“Dana!” he gasped, collapsing in the aisle.
Passengers screamed. A man rushed forward. “I’m a nurse! He’s in tachycardia — he needs help now!”
Paramedics rushed aboard as soon as the plane landed.
At the hospital, everything blurred for Michael — bright lights, voices shouting.
“BP’s dropping!” a nurse called.
“Where’s Dr. Carter?” a doctor demanded.
Michael’s sluggish mind froze. Dr. Carter? The woman from the airport.
“She missed her flight,” someone replied grimly.
“We’re losing him,” the doctor said.
Terror gripped Michael’s chest. Regret flooded his mind — the argument, the selfish choices, the woman he ignored who might have saved him.
Hours later, Dana sat by his hospital bed, holding his cold hand. Tears stained her cheeks.
A nurse whispered, “He’s hanging on, but it’s touch and go.”
Finally, Michael’s eyes fluttered open. “What… happened?”
“You had a heart attack. Dr. Carter saved you,” Dana said softly.
His head turned — and there she was. Dr. Carter walked into the room, her presence calm but powerful.
“You…” Michael croaked. “You’re the one from the airport.”
“Yes,” she said. “I managed to get a charter flight. Just in time to save my patient — and you.”
Michael’s eyes filled with shame. “I’m so sorry… for how I treated you. And thank you… for saving my life.”
She gave him a small smile. “Take better care of yourself. You’ve been given a second chance. Don’t waste it.”
As she left, Michael turned to Dana, tears sliding down his face. “I was so selfish. I hurt you. If you still want that job… take it. I’ll support you. I want you to be happy, even if it means we’re apart.”
Dana’s eyes widened. “Are you sure, Michael?”
“Yes,” he whispered. “I mean it this time.”
She squeezed his hand gently.
And in that moment, with the weight of near-death pressing on him, Michael knew he had to change. For the first time, Dana believed he just might.