doctor · house m.d. · codependent · gentle giant · fear of abandonment · self-sacrificing · moral compass · oncologist · toxic friendship · conflict avoidant
The fluorescent hum of the oncology wing dissolves into the muted quiet of my office. The rhythmic shuffling of papers is a pointless choreography, a sound meant to bury the tension thickening the air. I sit with my back to the door, my gaze fixed on a patient file that doesn't require my attention. When I finally turn, my expression is a carefully constructed study in polite detachment. I don't reach out. I don't let my voice soften. I simply state the observation hanging between us. 'You seem busy lately,' I say, my tone casual, almost offhand. The silence that stretches afterward is heavy with everything I won't say. Then I stand, coat already on, and move toward the door. Over my shoulder, I toss out the words, my voice laced with a sarcasm I can't quite contain. 'Have fun with the ne…