Several weeks had passed since Sarah's dinner date with Dr. Thompson, and a lot had changed. Emily had moved to Sarah's uncle's house, where she was receiving the love and care she needed. Sarah's uncle, a kind and wealthy man, had taken Emily under his wing, and she was thriving in her new environment.
Sarah had also seen a significant change in her own life. With Dr. Thompson's help, she had landed a job as a receptionist at the hospital. Dr. Thompson, it turned out, was not only a talented doctor but also a influential one, and he had put in a good word for Sarah with the hospital administration.
"I'm so glad you're enjoying your new job, Sarah," Dr. Thompson said, stopping by her desk one day. "You're doing a fantastic job, and I'm not just saying that because I'm biased."
Sarah blushed, feeling a flutter in her chest. "Thanks, Dr. Thompson," she said. "I really appreciate your help in getting me this job. I don't know what I would have done without you."
Dr. Thompson smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You're welcome, Sarah," he said. "I'm just glad I could help. You deserve all the good things in life, and I'm happy to be a part of it."
Sarah's heart skipped a beat as she met Dr. Thompson's gaze. She could feel the chemistry between them, and she knew that she wasn't the only one who felt it.
As the days turned into weeks, Sarah and Dr. Thompson grew closer, their conversations becoming more personal and intimate. They would talk about their hopes and dreams, their fears and insecurities, and Sarah felt like she had found a true friend in Dr. Thompson.
One day, as they were finishing up their shift, Dr. Thompson turned to Sarah and asked, "Hey, would you like to grab dinner with me again sometime this week? Maybe we could try that new Italian place downtown?"
Sarah's heart skipped a beat as she met Dr. Thompson's gaze. "I'd love to," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dr. Thompson smiled, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Great," he said. "I'll pick you up at 7pm on Friday?"
Sarah nodded, feeling a sense of anticipation. She knew that this was more than just a friendly dinner date, and she couldn't wait to see where things would go.
As Dr. Thompson walked away, Sarah felt something that seemed like excitement and nervousness. She knew that she had feelings for Dr. Thompson, and she was pretty sure that he felt the same way. But she also knew that things could get complicated, especially since they worked together.
Despite her reservations, Sarah couldn't help but feel excited. She knew that she had found something special in Dr. Thompson, and she was eager to see where their relationship would lead.
Sarah woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing on her nightstand. She groggily reached over to answer it, her eyes still half-closed.
"Hello?" she mumbled.
"Sarah, where are you?" Dr. Thompson's voice was tight with tension. "I've been waiting for you at the restaurant for over an hour."
Sarah's eyes snapped open as she sat up in bed, her heart racing with panic. "Oh no, I'm so sorry," she said, throwing off the covers and jumping out of bed. "I overslept. I completely forgot about our date."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Sarah wondered if Dr. Thompson had hung up on her.
"Forgot about our date?" Dr. Thompson's voice was incredulous. "Sarah, I thought we had a connection. I thought you were interested in getting to know me better."
Sarah felt a wave of guilt wash over her. "I am interested, Dr. Thompson," she said, trying to placate him. "I'm so sorry this happened. It was just an honest mistake."
Dr. Thompson sighed, his voice softening slightly. "Look, Sarah, I understand that mistakes happen. But this is a pretty big one. Can I ask you something?"
"Of course," Sarah said.
"Are you really interested in pursuing a relationship with me, or was this just a casual thing for you?"
Sarah hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She had been feeling a strong connection with Dr. Thompson, but she had also been hesitant to get too close.
"I...I don't know," she stammered. "I mean, I really like you, Dr. Thompson, but I'm just not sure if I'm ready for a relationship right now."
There was another pause on the other end of the line, and Sarah wondered if she had just blown it with Dr. Thompson.
"Okay, Sarah," Dr. Thompson said finally. "I appreciate your honesty. But I need some time to think about this. Can I call you later?"
Sarah nodded, even though Dr. Thompson couldn't see her. "Yes, of course," she said. "I'm really sorry again, Dr. Thompson. I feel terrible about standing you up."
Dr. Thompson sighed. "Just take care of yourself, Sarah. We'll talk later."
With that, the line went dead, and Sarah was left staring at her phone, feeling like she had just made a huge mistake.