Annie O'Neil - A Return, A Reunion, A Wedding

‘That’s not why I’m here,’ Jayne snapped, a bit too defensively.

She looked into her friend’s eyes and saw twenty years of friendship shining back at her. Why was she lying? She knew why she was back. She was here because calling Stella’s time of death had made her feel as if she’d killed her sister all over again.

Pain. Anguish. Guilt.

Feelings she wasn’t meant to be having. Not as a top surgeon, anyway. She’d thought placing that heart in Stella’s body would salve the torment she’d been carrying with her all these years. When Stella’s body had rejected the heart Jayne had felt as if it had rejected her too. All of which boiled down to one simple truth: if Jayne didn’t find a way to make genuine amends for her sister’s death, and the emotional wreckage she’d left in her wake, she could not continue as a surgeon. And that was a future she was completely unwilling to imagine.

Maggie tipped her head to the side, looking not unlike the twelve-year-old version of herself who had befriended Jayne after a particularly rough round of netball. ‘Whatever it is that’s brought you back... I just want you to know I’m glad you’re here. If you ever need to talk...’

It was an offer Maggie had given her countless times. But the only person Jayne had come close to confessing the full story to was Sam. No matter how close she felt to Mags, he’d always been the sounding board she’d needed. He was wise beyond his years. Always gave her perspective on things without making her feel stupid.

When she’d handed him back his ring she’d seen every emotion in his eyes. Pain. Anger. Hurt. Frustration. Disbelief. But instead of lashing out he’d leant in and given her cheek the softest kiss.

‘No matter what it is you’re going through,’ he’d said, ‘I want you to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You may not see it now, but you will find the way. You’ll survive this. Believe me when I say you are so much stronger than you think you are.’

If she had believed him would they be together now?

Back then it had seemed impossible. The only path she’d seen was to pursue her sister’s dreams with blinkered, exacting energy. A path so narrow there had been no room for anyone else on it.

It had taken Stella’s death to make her realise just how wrong she’d been. No amount of lives saved would ever bring her sister back.

She forced herself to pop on a smile and clapped her hands together. ‘Honestly—I’m good. Just...you know...it’s always a little bit weird seeing an ex, right?’

Maggie gave an apologetic shrug and automatically gave her wedding ring, now hanging from a chain around her neck, a quick rub. She wouldn’t know. She and Nate had married pretty much straight out of school, before he’d headed off to boot camp. Theirs had been a very similar romance to Jayne and Sam’s. Childhood sweethearts making good on their teenage dreams. Well... Not so similar. But Jayne was happy for them.

She cocked her head to the side at the sound of children laughing. ‘Why don’t I round up those kids of yours and get us to the cricket ground?’

Maggie peered at her for another moment, obviously trying to decide whether or not she should try and force Jayne to talk, and then thought better of it. ‘Let’s do that. The doctor said I was supposed to keep my calorie consumption up—so bring on the burgers!’

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