Echoes of the Past and a Cry for Help.
It took Sarah several minutes to return my call.
"Anna, I got your message. Are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with unease.
I tried to speak, but my voice wavered. Sensing my fear, Sarah's tone softened as she worked to calm me down.
"Do you want me to come over? I don't mind, even if it's late," she offered.
"No, Sarah," I pleaded. "It's not safe for you to be out at this hour. Please, stay home."
"If you insist," she said reluctantly. "But at least tell me what's going on. You know you can always talk to me."
I took a deep, steadying breath and began recounting everything that had happened. The moment I mentioned hearing Max's voice, Sarah's concern deepened.
"Anna, are you absolutely certain it was him?"
"Yes," I replied firmly. "I'd know his voice anywhere."
There was a pause before Sarah spoke again, her tone resolute. "Anna, you need to stay calm. Try to get some rest. I'll come over first thing in the morning."
"Thank you, Sarah," I said, my gratitude spilling over. "You've always been such a good friend to me."
After hanging up, I lay in bed, but my heart was still racing, my thoughts a tangled mess. Sleep felt like a distant hope.
The next morning, Sarah arrived as promised. The moment I saw her, I ran into her arms, hugging her tightly. She pulled back and studied my face, her eyes filled with concern.
"Anna, you look exhausted," she said, noting my puffy, sleep-deprived eyes.
We settled on the couch, and Sarah got straight to the point. "You know I love you, right? So, I'm going to be honest. I don't think I've ever truly understood how deeply you love Max."
Her words pierced through me, and I nodded slowly. Sarah's perceptiveness had always been her strength, and she could see the conflict etched across my face.
She leaned closer, her tone gentle but firm. "Anna, what are you going to do? You've built a beautiful life with Fredrick, and now Max is back, stirring everything up."
I shook my head helplessly. "I don't know, Sarah. I'm so confused. After everything Max put me through—years of silence, of pain—I finally found someone who loves me unconditionally. And now, out of nowhere, he shows up. Why now? Why this way?"
Sarah's expression hardened. "Anna, listen to me. Fredrick loves you. He's been there for you, steady and true. Max left you when you needed him the most. Do you really want to risk everything for someone who walked away without an explanation?"
Her words stung, but I couldn't ignore the nagging need for closure. "Sarah, I need answers. I need to know why Max disappeared. I can't move on until I understand."
She sighed, shaking her head. "I know you, Anna. And I can see it in your eyes—you still have feelings for Max. But let me tell you this: Max is your past. Fredrick is your present. Don't let your past ruin what you have now."
I sat in silence, her words echoing in my mind.
Sarah stood and hugged me tightly. "Just think carefully, okay? You deserve to be happy."
As she left, the house felt emptier, and my thoughts felt heavier. I sat on the couch, constantly glancing at my phone, waiting for that unknown number to call again. But the call never came. Instead, my phone buzzed with a call from Chinwe, my colleague at the hospital.
"Big Auntie!" she greeted cheerfully. "We haven't seen you today. Your patients are waiting!"
I sighed deeply, my voice dry and faint. "Chinwe, I don't think I can make it today. Please, assign my patients to Dr. Charles and let them know I'm sorry."
Chinwe was stunned. "Anna, you never miss a day. What's wrong?"
"I'm just not in the right frame of mind," I admitted. "I promise I'll be back next week."
After a brief pause, she relented. "Alright, Anna. Please take care of yourself."
"I will. Thanks, Chinwe," I said, ending the call.
I sank deeper into the couch, staring up at the warm glow of my chandelier. My thoughts churned, each memory of Fredrick and Max competing for my attention. Time passed in a blur, and hunger gnawed at me, but I was too drained to get up. Eventually, I drifted into an uneasy sleep.
A loud knock startled me awake. Disoriented, I glanced at the clock. It was 8 p.m. At first, I thought I was imagining it, but the knock came again, followed by a faint cry. A baby's cry.
I hurried to the door and found my neighbor standing there, clutching her toddler. Her face was etched with worry, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Doctor, I'm so sorry to bother you, but I need your help," she said, her voice trembling.
"Calm down," I said gently. "What's wrong?"
She broke down, her sobs wracking her body. "My baby's been running a fever for two days. The medicine I gave him isn't helping, and I don't know what to do."
I immediately ushered her inside and guided her to the couch. The little boy looked pale and lethargic in her arms.
After a quick examination, I identified the issue and administered some medicine to bring his fever down. Then, I wrote a prescription and explained how to care for him.
"Your baby will be fine," I assured her. "Just follow these instructions, and let me know if his condition doesn't improve."
Her face lit up with relief. "Thank you, Doctor Anna. I don't know what I would've done without you."
She held her baby close, gratitude shining in her eyes, before making her way back home.
As the door closed, I let out a long breath. For a moment, my swirling thoughts quieted, replaced by the satisfaction of helping someone in need. But as silence settled back into the room, the battle in my heart resumed, louder than ever.