Do you understand me?” He eyed her up and down, backing away in the opposite direction of me. Quickly spewing, “I’m the doctor, you’re the nurse, Renee, know your role in my hospital.”
My eyes widened as did hers.
Before she could reply, he spun and walked away, leaving us both there shocked and dismayed.
“Wow,” I blurted too loud, causing her eyes to connect with mine. “I-I-I-yo-yo-yo…” I immediately started stuttering, unable to form words. My tongue getting twisted with my Spanish dialect.
“I’m so sorry you had to see that.” She deeply sighed, embarrassed. Shaking her head for me. “He wasn’t always like this. I know how that sounds after what you’ve just witnessed, but trust me … he was the kindest, sweetest doctor, man you’d ever meet. I won’t make excuses for him, but circumstances change people. The hospital knows what he’s going through since his wife—”
“Code blue! Code blue! All available medical staff to room 521-bed A. I repeat, we have a code blue in room 521-bed A,” the speakers in the hallway went off. “Shit! I have to go. It was nice to meet you, Camila,” she concluded, running off in the same direction as Dr. Pierce.
Without giving it any thought, I went after him. My feet moved on their own, not walking but running this time. Going straight toward his office.
I ran faster.
Harder.
And with more determination.
My feet burned against the tile floor with each stride and sentiment bulldozing its way through my head. My heart pounded, my ears rang, and my vigorous breathing escalated higher and louder with every second that passed. The adrenaline flowing through my bloodstream had already taken over.
He was getting a piece of my mind.
No matter what.
I rounded the corner, coming face to face with his office door that was slightly ajar. I saw him sitting at his desk, his body hunched over with his head in between his hands and once again it stopped me dead in my tracks. The heavy weight of what was devouring him alive had me frozen in place.
He was in a trancelike state, lost in what could only be described as his own personal Hell.
My stomach fluttered, my heart dropped. I was living in, breathing in, settled in his turmoil, becoming one with all his emotions. Watching the good doctor breakdown in front of me was a vision I’d never forget. His body took on a whole different demeanor. The cold, calloused bastard was gone, and a broken man sat in his place, not holding anything back.
Tears rolled down his face, and a desperate heave escaped his chest.
I leaned against the doorframe for support, witnessing his mind and heart going to war with one another. He didn’t stop, and I wondered if he could feel me too. Knowing it was a stupid thought, but it was there, nonetheless.
His rage quickly took over, replacing what felt like the hole in his chest. I blinked, and he grabbed the picture frame he must have been lost in, forcefully chucking it across the room.
Roaring, “Motherfucker!”
I hesitated, nothing more, nothing less.
He stood up so fast, his leather chair slammed into the bookcase behind him. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have thought he was coming after me when his feet started stomping on the ground, hauling ass out of his office. I turned, hiding behind the door. This wasn’t the right time to confront him, and I was beginning to think there would never be one.
As soon as I heard him trampling his way down the hall away from his office, my cellphone rang. Skyler’s name lit up my screen, and panic rapidly took over my senses.
Going from one fucked up situation to the next.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry I left Jackson with Jour—”
“No need to apologize, Camila, I understand. I would have done the same thing had a family member needed me.”
“A family member?”
“Yeah, Jackson told me your mom fell down the stairs, and you had to rush her to the emergency room. He said he told you to take the car, so you wouldn’t have to wait for the bus. I get it. Not a problem at all.”
My eyes widened. “Right. I still should have called and told you, though,” I replied on autopilot.
“Is she alright?”
“Uh huh.”
“That’s great to hear.”
“It is.”
“When family is involved, we lose our minds. Besides, it did Jackson some good to watch his baby sister. He was actually dancing with her like you do when I walked into the house,” she chuckled.
“He was?”
“Yes. Don’t