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Learning to share a space with Lauren is possibly one of the easiest adjustments I've ever had to make. Learning all her nuances and habits has been interesting; like the way she takes her shoes and socks off the minute she gets in because she hates wearing them. Or how she'll lock herself in the bathroom the minute she gets home if she's had a rough day at work, those days are the hardest, coaxing her out or sitting on the cold floor tiles with her until she's ready to talk about it. There was one evening where I found her standing in the shower fully dressed under the water, she'd been in there so long the water had run cold. That night was one of the hardest, for both of us, seeing her so beat up and withdrawn about something broke my heart. But for the most part it's been more than I could ever imagine.

In the last year of being together we've had our share of arguments, I swear that woman gets more stubborn as she gets older. But the fights just equate to make up sex and that really is the best.

"So, what you're saying Lauren is that you're cancelling our date tonight. Even though it's our anniversary?" I ask, feeling resigned as I sit at my small desk in my make shift office at work. Cell phone to my ear whilst my free hand rubs circles on my temple.

"Not by choice baby, I got chased down by one of the hospitals administrators and I have six months of charting to do. Apparently none of them have my signature and they all need signing before tomorrow." She sighs, clearly exasperated, I know it isn't her fault but I can't deny that I'm disappointed. We've had this planned for about two months.

I take a calming breath and pull out my work planner "we'll have to reschedule then I guess. What time do you think you'll be home tonight?" Silence, that's never a good sign. I wait patiently for a moment before repeating myself "just tell me Lauren."

"Honestly? I'm probably going to be here all night so I won't be home till tomorrow." I can hear the tension in her voice, as much I love her, I hate sharing her with her job sometimes and she knows this. "I really am sorry baby. I have the whole weekend off though so we'll do something then, I promise."

"Yeah, sure. I'll call you later." I know I sound distant, I can hear the frustration in my own voice.

"Ok. I love you?" The way she says that is like she's asking a question rather than telling me, gauging my reaction and I hate that she feels she has to do that.

"I love you. I'll call later I promise." Lauren disconnects the call at that and I release an audible groan and lean forward until my forehead hits the solid wood of my desk.

"Trouble in paradise?" The sound of Harry’s voice startles me, but not enough to make me want to lift my head away from the wood surface and out of this funk I feel myself falling into. I hear the soft footsteps of my boss as he walks towards me and pulls out one of the chairs I have at the opposite side of my desk. "What's wrong Camila?" His voice is soft and I feel safe enough to lift my head slightly to set him with a pitiful stare.

"Lauren has to work tonight." Sitting back I set my hands in my lap and watch as Harry works out what that means.

"Oh, isn't today you're anniversary?"

"Yep. But instead she's going to be at the hospital." I explain, annoyance clear in my voice.

Harry pushes his wire rimmed glasses to the top of his head and crosses his legs "oh dear, she stuck in surgery or something?" This isn't the first time Lauren’s job has interfered with our plans, and usually Harry’s one of the first people I vent to when I get phone calls like the one I've just received.

Rolling my eyes I fidget with some of the papers on my desk and shake my head "if only it was that interesting, she's got charts to sign or something." I watch as Harry processes that information and frowns a little.