One week passed, and Shirley saw no sign of Jay. "What am I doing? Why am I waiting for him when it's clear he used me to get away?" she muttered to herself while checking the IV of a paitent.
"Who used you?" Shirley's paitent Ebuka, asked. He was Shirley's most cherished patient of the year, suffering from late-stage lung cancer.
Despite his illness, he retained his handsome appearance and was in his late thirties and extremely wealthy. Shirley couldn't help but wish he weren't on his deathbed so she could benefit from him financially.
"Never mind, Ebuka," Shirley deflected.
"So, you lied!" Ebuka accused.
"I lied? How?"
"Yeah, that you don't have a man."
"I do—"
"Then who is Jayden?" Ebuka interrupted.
Shirley was taken aback. "How do you know him?"
"You've mentioned his name all week, always insulting but secretly hoping he'd come back," Ebuka explained.
Shirley cursed herself for being so careless with her words.
"He's someone I met last week," she evaded.
"And he broke your heart already?"
"Not really."
"So—"
"I've got to get going, Ebuka. I'll be back to check on you," Shirley hurriedly changed the subject, eager to escape his probing questions.
"Dr. Shirley!" a nurse called out.
"Shhhh.... Some patients are asleep" Shirley scolded.
"Sorry. A man said he wants to see you. He said you're his girl," the nurse panted, clearly flustered.
"Girl? He must have made a mistake."
"As much as I thought!" the nurse exclaimed before rushing out.
"As much as you thought? What do you mean? A man can't look for me? You're crazy! What do you take me for? I'm attractive," Shirley muttered to herself, her self-assurance wavering.
"You're a fool!" an imaginary voice echoed in her ear, berating her.
After a few minutes, the nurse returned and confirmed that it was indeed Shirley the man was asking for.
Shirley felt a mix of excitement and apprehension, as nobody had ever come looking for her before. She cautiously followed the nurse's directions.
The man stood facing away from her, wearing a baseball cap as if trying to conceal his identity.
"How may I help you?" Shirley inquired.
He turned to face her, his features obscured by the cap. "I'm here, Shirley," he said, his voice unmistakably Jayden's.