"How did you get into my house?" I demanded, taken aback.
"Doc, the door was open. I'm sorry. It wasn't intentional," he replied, standing awkwardly in the hallway.
"Why are you still standing here? Wait outside," I snapped, frustration bubbling over. I had just lost the chance to enjoy an evening with a man I found attractive, all because of him. Irritated, I pushed him out of the way and called Raymond inside, asking him what he was doing at my place so late at night.
"Doc, I was about to grab some dinner, but I couldn't find my wallet. I thought it might have fallen in your car, so I came to check. I knocked, but there was no answer, and the door was open, so I just walked in," Raymond explained.
"Why didn't you just call me?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
"I don't even know your name, Doc. How could I know your number?"
I gave him my number and made dinner for him. He seemed uncomfortable eating, so I told him to relax. I could tell there was something on his mind, but the look I gave him kept him silent. After I took a shower, I found him asleep on the couch when I returned. He looked so peaceful. I covered him with a blanket, then went back inside to unwind.
But a noise in the hallway woke me up. I went to check, and what I saw was nothing short of heaven. The apartment was spotless, and breakfast was laid out on the dining table. I couldn't believe my eyes, my place had never looked this good since Owen left. It felt new, fresh.
"Good morning, Doc. I hope I didn't wake you," Raymond said, looking guilty.
"No, don't worry about it. But... what's all this?"
"After everything you've done for me, I just wanted to show my gratitude by cleaning up and making breakfast. I'm sorry about last night too. It wasn't my intention to..."
I interrupted him. "Okay, Raymond. I know you've been wanting to say something since yesterday, so just go ahead."
He sighed deeply before speaking. "Doc, I know you're a doctor, and you've got everything together, but hooking up with different men isn't going to solve your problems. I don't know what you're going through, but I respect you, and I know you're strong enough to deal with it without using men. Life is about creating yourself, not relying on others."
His words hit me hard. I wasn't sure how to respond. Raymond turned and fled almost immediately, as if he feared he'd overstepped. His words stayed with me, following me throughout my day. On my way to work, I even got pulled over by the police and got a ticket, all because I couldn't stop thinking about what he'd said.
At the hospital, I checked in on one of his friends, explaining the surgery results. The man broke down in tears, and I did my best to comfort him. But the entire time, Raymond's words echoed in my mind. Later, I walked into the gang boss's room, feeling the weight of my role as the hospital director.
His gang members were kneeling beside his bed, but when I entered, they all shouted in unison: "SORRY, DOC!" They bowed their heads whenever they saw me. The whole thing felt surreal, but I kept my feelings to myself. After checking on the boss briefly, I left the ward, still thinking about Raymond.
That night, I decided to visit Raymond's shop. When I arrived, I saw him trying to hide, but I had already spotted him.
"Raymond, come out. You said all that stuff, but now you can't even face me?"
He sighed, walking towards me. "Doc, don't forget you gave me the go-ahead to speak. I didn't mean any disrespect."
"I just want to understand what you meant by 'life is about creating yourself.'"
Raymond looked down for a moment, then replied, "Doc, it was a quote I saw in high school: 'Value what you have and use it to benefit yourself and others. Shape your own identity instead of dwelling on the one you've created in the past.'"
His words were heavy, and I couldn't stop thinking about them all night. Why would a young man like Raymond say something so profound?
The next morning, I called the president of the hospital and requested a board meeting. I announced that I would be returning to my original role as the CEO and shared my vision for the future of the hospital. The board was supportive, but I knew there were skeptics. I promised them I would make the hospital the best in a few years and asked for their trust.
In the meantime, I bought a villa with a swimming pool and a large plot of land, something befitting my new status as CEO. I decided to turn my old apartment into one of the hospital's staff hostels.
Then, I went back to Raymond's shop with a request I knew he couldn't refuse. "Raymond, I want you to be my secretary," I said. He didn't even wait for me to finish before agreeing. He didn't ask about salary or anything. I took him to the villa, showed him around, and introduced him to his new living quarters.
"Doc, I didn't know doctors were this rich. I might need to start medical school myself!" he joked.
"Medical school might be a bit late for you. But I'm not just a doctor. I'm the CEO of the hospital now. But that's a story for another time," I said, feeling a sense of pride for how far I had come.
I took a trip to visit my aunt and gave her a sum of money and a car, thanking her for always supporting me. Then I went to visit my adoptive father's house, partly to show him that I had made it on my own. I wanted to rub my success in his face, to show him that I didn't need his wealth to succeed.
When I arrived, the compound looked empty. I honked my horn, but there was no response. I walked into the house, and then I saw him, collapsed on the floor, an oxygen mask in his hand.