“This is very strange,” said the cardiologist. “I have never seen anything like it.”
“What is it, doctor?” she asked.
The monitor was facing away from her. The doctor stared, furrowing his brow and shaking his head. Finally, he stepped away and came around to sit beside her.
“Tell me again what you’ve been experiencing,” he asked.
“My heart starts racing. I get short-of-breath,” she said.
“Are you exercising when this happens?”
“No! I’m just sitting at my desk,” she said.
“It just starts randomly?” he asked.
Her face flushed. “Kind of,” she said.
“Is there something you’re not telling me?” he asked.
“N-n-n0,” she said.
He paused and moved on to explain what she was about to see. “We have new technology,” he said, “that takes information from many different studies and layers them to form an image of your heart. We took the images from your electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, MRI, and CT scan, and combined them. Then we took the electroencephalogram, the study of your brain waves, and layered that too. The result is an image that should show what is happening with your heart.”
She nodded, showing that she understood.
He stood up and turned the monitor to face her.
She looked at the image showing dry ground and a box marked, “Fragile.”
Just then her cellphone buzzed. She look at her phone, at the photo of the man calling her. Her face flushed; her breath caught; she put her hand over her heart to hold it in.
This week’s Unicorn Challenge. Rules are to use the image as a prompt and write a maximum of 250 words.
Hot Dogs and Marmalade 
Cute very cute 💜☀️💜
Very intriguing story
I hope his heart is just as fragile.
Sometimes when I write, I wonder if what I’m saying is clear. Your comment tells that you get it — and that means so much to me. Thank you!! ❤️
I’m always happy when somebody understands what I’m trying to say. Honestly, I had to read your piece several times before clicking SEND. Glad I did. 🙂
Me too
Yes, I’m with Ladysighs – I hope his heart is just as fragile.
Beautifully written, Sally.
It’s making me think of an old song, ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ sung by Peter Sellars and Sophia Loren.
Actually, I suspect that casting of Peter Sellars might be considered offensive nowadays. It’s a product of a former time . The video didn’t come up on my blog since I have the basic version. Sorry about that.
C’mon, Jenne, there’s no need to apologise for Peter Sellers.
He was much more offensive as a French policeman, but always brilliantly funny.
No worries, Jenne.
I had never heard that song! I can see why you thought of it AND I can also why Peter Sellers might be controversial.
Clever take on the prompt, Sally, you romantic you. 🙂
Haha — I suppose. Waaay too sentimental, too.
For the prompt, I just thought, “What’s the most fragile thing out there?” and I knew it was a heart
I loved this, Sally.
I guess we’re all suckers for a gal in love!
I’ll try to remember that and include the more often. Then you can murrderr them off 😊
It occurs to me, probably due to your comments, that I seem to do fewer murrdirrs than in earlier times.
Hmmm…
Definitely need more murders. 😄
Actually— just continue writing what you write. I love the tension you pack into 250 words — and the twist at the end. I really enjoy your pieces.
I liked it.
(A similar muse visited me. I prefer your more subtle take on the idea of love and loss.)
Oh, Sally! Your story made my heart flutter.
Nicely done, you little romantic, you! 💓
I so enjoyed your heartfelt tale! Nice one.
Very good. My mind went straight to the Peter Sellers song too, but you took it in a different direction. All the high tech tests in the world can’t really explain the mystery of love and how it affects us. Nice.
Honestly, I had never heard that Peter Sellers song until Jenne mentioned it. I can easily see why my post and that song go hand in hand. Thanks for the kind words.
Brilliant!
Aww…it’s love.
Nice!
Oh, I love the direction you took this! 💞💞💞 Nicely done, Sally! 💞