My Heart of Stone

When I was undergoing my partial gastrectomy, my wife, Chloe, who had promised to stay by my side the entire time, was nowhere to be found.

My surgeon, Dr. Evans, looked behind me in surprise. "Didn't Dr. Miller come to support you?"

I called Chloe. Instead of her voice, I heard her ex-boyfriend, Julian, in the background: "Chloe, babe, can you grab me some boxers?"

Chloe spoke into the phone in a rushed whisper. "Julian hurt his leg. I’m his doctor, and I can't just leave him like this.