Dr. Briana Ortiz

Quick Facts

Dr. Briana Ortiz is the protagonist and one of the two narrators of Yours Truly. An ER physician at Royaume Northwestern Hospital, she faces a painful divorce, her brother's illness, and competition at work. Her journey is about healing, trust, and unexpected love with Dr. Jacob Maddox.

Who She Is

Dr. Briana Ortiz is a dedicated ER physician whose life is upended by personal and professional challenges. Defined by her fierce loyalty and sharp wit, Briana initially presents a tough exterior, masking deep vulnerabilities stemming from past betrayals. As she navigates a difficult divorce, her brother's life-threatening illness, and the arrival of a new colleague, Briana's journey becomes a powerful exploration of healing, trust, and the possibility of finding love in the most unexpected places.

Personality & Traits

Briana is a complex character, defined by a tough exterior that guards a deeply vulnerable and caring heart. Scarred by past betrayals, she approaches life with a mix of cynicism and fierce determination.

• Fiercely Loyal and Protective: Briana's primary motivation is the well-being of her loved ones, especially her brother, Benny Ortiz. She acts as his staunchest advocate and caregiver, putting his needs far above her own.
• Witty and Sarcastic: Briana uses sharp, often self-deprecating humor as both a defense mechanism and a way to connect with others. Her inner monologue and conversations are filled with witty observations.
• Wounded and Cynical: Scarred by her father's abandonment and her husband's infidelity, Briana is deeply distrustful of men and cynical about the prospect of finding a lasting, faithful love. She has adopted her mother's cautionary tales as her own reality.
• Prone to Anger: When hurt, Briana's first reaction is often rage. Her response to discovering her husband's affair—watering his plants with bleach and flushing her wedding ring—reveals a capacity for pettiness born from deep pain.
• Compassionate and Dedicated: Despite her personal struggles, she is an excellent and empathetic doctor who cares deeply for her patients and her team at the hospital.
• Vulnerable: Beneath her hardened exterior, Briana is incredibly vulnerable. She has a designated "sob closet" at work where she goes to release the overwhelming emotions she keeps hidden from everyone else.

Character Journey

Briana's journey is one of emotional transformation, moving from anger and despair toward hope and vulnerability. At the start, she is bitter about her divorce, exhausted from caring for Benny, and immediately hostile toward Jacob, seeing him as another man poised to take something from her. The turning point begins with the letters she exchanges with Jacob, allowing her to see beyond her prejudices and connect with his gentle nature. When she discovers Jacob is Benny's anonymous kidney donor, her feelings of gratitude and admiration accelerate into love. However, her past trauma creates a massive internal conflict, causing her to push Jacob away. The climax of her development occurs when she reads Jacob's journal, giving her the courage to confront her fears, dismantle the walls around her heart, and finally accept the love she deserves.

Key Relationships

• Dr. Jacob Maddox: Jacob is the catalyst for Briana's emotional healing. Their relationship evolves from animosity to a deep friendship built on witty letters and shared vulnerability, which ultimately blossoms into a profound, life-altering love. He is patient and understanding, providing the safety she needs to learn to trust again.
• Benny Ortiz: Briana's younger brother is the center of her world. Her fierce love for him and her desperation to see him well is a testament to her loyalty and highlights the theme of Family, Illness, and Sacrifice. His recovery allows her the freedom to finally focus on her own happiness.
• Alexis: As her best friend, Alexis is Briana's anchor. She provides unconditional support, offers a more optimistic worldview that balances Briana's cynicism, and consistently shows up for her, especially during the finalization of her divorce.
• Her Mother: Briana's relationship with her mother is loving but complicated. Her mother's own painful history with men has been passed down to Briana in the form of warnings and a deep-seated distrust, which Briana must unlearn to find happiness with Jacob.

Defining Moments

• The "Sob Closet" Encounter: After snapping at Jacob for his well-intentioned but poorly-phrased comment about Benny's dialysis, she reveals the depth of her pain and fear. Jacob's initial kindness in bringing her a warm washcloth in the closet is the first crack in her hardened exterior.
• The First Letter: Jacob's handwritten letter of apology completely changes her perception of him. It opens the door to a form of Communication and Misunderstanding where she feels safe enough to be vulnerable.
• Discovering Jacob is the Donor: When she learns from Dr. Gibson that Jacob is giving Benny a kidney, she is overcome with a tidal wave of gratitude and love, realizing the profound goodness of the man she has come to care for.
• The Elevator Encounter: Seeing her ex-husband Nick and his new, pregnant wife triggers a traumatic response, causing her to miscarry their baby and retreat from Jacob out of fear. This moment highlights the theme of Healing and Second Chances.
• Reading the Journal: This is the novel's emotional climax. By allowing her to see his soul and the unwavering depth of his love for her, Jacob gives Briana the final piece of evidence she needs to believe he is different and that their love is real and safe.

Essential Quotes

"I’m not going to do anything stupid. I’m not going to drunk-dial him. I’m not going to get shit-faced and throw up in my hair—" "I’m more worried about you throwing Molotov cocktails through his windows." I snorted. "I guess that’s a valid concern," I mumbled.

This exchange with Alexis highlights Briana's initial distrust and anger towards men, using humor to mask her pain. It also foreshadows her capacity for extreme reactions when hurt.

"Why the fuck would he want to live for decades on dialysis? He’s twenty-seven years old. He wants to make spontaneous trips to Vegas with his friends, drink beer, meet girls, and have sex without being embarrassed about the tubes sticking out of his chest."

This quote reveals Briana's deep empathy for Benny and her fierce protectiveness of him. It underscores her willingness to fight for his quality of life and her frustration with the limitations imposed by his illness.

"This is my team. This is my hospital. You’ll never get the job, no matter who pulls strings for you."

Briana's initial hostility towards Jacob is evident in this confrontational statement. It showcases her competitive nature and her fear of being replaced or undermined, stemming from past betrayals.

"You never realize you’re living the best time of your life. It happens and then it ends, and you only see it for what it was after. I gave Nick the part of me I don’t give anyone. I gave him the kind of stupid, innocent love that you can only give before you know better. He got the best of me. And I’ll never find that me again."

This quote encapsulates Briana's deep sense of loss and her belief that she can never experience that kind of innocent love again. It highlights her cynicism and her fear of vulnerability, shaped by her past experiences.

"I am deeply in love with this man. And only five percent of that is because of what he’s doing for you."

Briana's confession to Benny reveals the depth of her feelings for Jacob, acknowledging that her love for him extends far beyond his act of donating a kidney. It signifies her willingness to embrace love again, despite her fears and past hurts.