HEARTSTRINGS

The only sound that disturbed the stillness in the operating room was the heart monitor's steady beeping. At the head of the table stood the renowned surgeon and accuracy expert Dr. Williams Benson, his hands steady, and confident in the gloves. His mind was a fortress, allowing no hesitancy or diversion from his unwavering focus.

With their attention fixed on him at all times, anticipating his every move, his squad performed expertly around him. Williams wasn't bothered as a nurse wiped perspiration from his brow. The patient was a middle-aged guy whose life depended on the treatment being performed well, and his thoughts were focused on him.

He muttered, "scalpel," in a steady, emotionless voice. Almost before he could say another word, the instrument was placed in his hand.

The world outside the OR faded into a distant memory as time slowed. Beyond the cold air, the antiseptic white lights, and the faint buzz of the equipment that kept the guy on the table alive, there was nothing. This was Alexander's favourite place to be alive: right on the verge, where his scalpel teetered between life and death.

And in here, uncertainty or dread had no place. Those feelings belonged to lesser men (in Williams' world), men who let their personal lives interfere with their professional lives and let life's messiness impair their judgement. Williams had long before erected walls high enough to block out these kinds of interruptions, his existence was a fortress of control.

Weakness had no place in the passageways of his thinking!

His hands worked with dexterity, as the procedure went smoothly. As he fixed the injured artery, with every suture, the evidence of his ability, and with this, he experienced that comforting feeling of contentment. The patient's vitals stabilised, and the monitor's formerly erratic beeps began to settle into a comforting, steady rhythm.

Williams gave the order, "close him up," and moved away from the table. He took off his gloves while maintaining the same expression and heart rate.