Back at the hospital, Jason lay facing the ceiling, thinking about Liberty and her breathtaking eyes, and the sound of her voice kept echoing in his head. A smile crept across his face as images of her danced in his mind, one after the other. A forbidden figment of his imagination that kept him warm and loved, a feeling he last experienced when he was embraced in his mother's arms. For a second, he forgot about all the hurdles in his life, but his bubble of bliss was suddenly busted by the nurse who waltzed in to do her checks. A moment of sadness zipped through his chest when he was hit with the realisation that he might not see Liberty since this was her job.
"Mr. Parker, I am here to take your vitals and check what you would like for breakfast. The hospital offers a wide range of food, it's crazy but good for the patients."
To hide his disappointment, Jason chuckled, "Makes sense given the amount of money clients pay…"
They both laughed, but Jason couldn't wait for her to leave so he could at least go back to his daydream. Dreams. That is all it was, and what it will be. He sighed exhaustedly, thinking about his sad life.
"Is everything okay? You suddenly became aloof…", the nurse feigned interest
"No…nothing, but tell me, is, uhm, Dr. Liberty Black in yet?" he asked without thinking, and his face instantly flushed with embarrassment, 'I shouldn't have asked that…', he thought, waiting anxiously for the nurse's reply,
"Oh…you were not told?", with a sad tone, she continued, "Liberty asked to be reassigned somewhere else this week, so she will be working at our sister clinic out in the country...the worst place to be as a trainee, honestly, I feel for her-"
Blind to Jason's breaking smile, the nurse continued, "I don't know why she did that. I thought for sure she hated that place, but I guess she suddenly had a change of mind...", after checking him, she looked up and smiled, "All done…please do let me know if you experience any pain."
Her acting is really impeccable, Dr. Mors thought as she stood by the door watching the nurse move around and chatting away without a single idea as to what her words might be doing to the man in front of him, "Thank you, Sarah, you may leave",
The nurse jumped excitedly, "Oh, you are here… thank you, doc"
"I have to be here unfortunately…my assistant suddenly asked to switch, but my new assistant will be arriving shortly, please show her to my office when she arrives." With that, Sarah walked off, leaving just Jason and Dr. Mors
"It's because of me, right?" He suddenly said without hiding the guilt and the sadness he felt, and she couldn't help but feel sorry towards him,
"No…don't be ridic-"
"You don't have to lie to me, Dr. Mors, that nurse already said she doesn't like that place, why else would she go there?"
Dr. Mors could not respond; she just quietly stood there and watched as his eyes drained in complete sorrow, but,she couldn't resist the question. she pulled a chair next to his bed. "Tell me…do you like Liberty?"
"Yes", he said without hesitating, "But I know why me and her could never work and last night I ruined the only chance I may have had to be her friend. I promise I didn't know that they were sister, and why didn't I make the connection?? They have so many similarities, physically, of course…how could I have been so ignorant…"
Dr. Mors sighed, "Yeah, your thing is complicated, but I am sure you guys will work something out. In the meantime, give her time…"
He buried his head in his palms. "She must really think I am selfish. I mean, here I am, engaged to her sister without seeking her blessings first and not to mention being super friendly to another woman when I am taken. She must think I am a scum…"
Dr Mors pushed her chair back and stood up. "I am pretty sure it is more than that. I have other patients to check, but do give Liberty some time. She is new at this."
Her words left his brain scrambled and confused. What could she mean by that last part? What is she new to? Having a brother-in-law, or being lied to by the brother-in-law? He slumped back on his bed when he suddenly got a notification from his team member,
"This girl is gorgeous, please let me have her if you will not make a move. You look good together, though", his face suddenly lit up with a mixture of emotions. Was it alright for him to smile and feel the way he does from looking at a picture of another woman, worse, his fiancée's sister?
He studied the picture intimately, and he time-travelled to that moment when she knelt before him hours before the game started, with full focus on his leg. He remembered how giddy his heart was and the subtle tremors of excitement that made his palms sweat. The look on his face as he stared down at her said it all. "I am really in trouble…", he sighed,
"Yes, you are!" Milo cried bursting through the door, "You really need to stop worrying me like this, kid. I am older than you, but I swear you have been to the hospital way more than I have…", he took off his grey flat cap, and with a voice of concern, he dropped his face, "Maybe is time you quit…this is the 6th time son..."
"Yeah…. maybe you are right, Uncle Milo, it is time I put the bat to rest.", he said, and Milo finched and gasped in shock, "What?!"