Devouring love (3 page)

I didn't even glance at the guardian when I passed him, although I felt his gaze on me, warning about something. He knew something what I didn't know, but my head was too full of work even to notice that warning.

“Doctor,” I heard a woman's voice behind my back. I stopped, thinking that someone was talking with me, but that woman was addressing to other doctor who was not far away from me. I knew him. After all, we both worked on the same floor. That man was quite old, with thick glasses on his nose, creating an expression that he was really smart person. Maybe he was, but I didn't know that. I only heard some rumors that he was not as nice as it could appear to our clients.

The man stopped and looked at the woman who was wearing an expensive black dress. On her fingers I noticed many rings with diamonds. She was one of his clients.

I turned my eyes away and started moving forward, glancing at my hands for some reason. It was quite strange to accept that kind of case when a good specialist couldn't solve. But I hoped, that maybe I would be able to help that girl. I really wasn't eager to use all this situation to get more money, but... it would be really on the purpose.

I entered to my cabinet. It wasn't empty for my sick luck. I saw a woman, waiting for me. How I could guess, she was my new patient who came here to meet her new doctor. For some reason, this day seemed for me one of those long days when the clock arrows move 'super' quickly.

“Good day,” I said politely and took a seat in front of that woman. She greeted my with a huge smile. To be honest, she looked ugly. There wasn't any doubt that she used plastic surgeries more that she should have.

“Good day, Mr. Offman,” she said in a strange voice. It almost sounded like she would try to flirt with me.

Dammit. Why did every old woman, who had a good position in society, tried to bring a young man to her bed?

“I am Mrs. Katherine Hudson,” she introduced herself.

I nodded, like I had a perfect clue who she was, but the truth was, that I didn't. She was one of Mrs. Mathew old patients with whom I would have to deal.

“It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Katherine Hudson. How could I help you?” I asked, glancing at my mountain of files. Somewhere should be a file about her, explaining me what kind of problems she had.

“I know that you have met Mr. Spring in the morning,” she started, forcing my eyes to take a better look at her. ”I also know what he wanted from you. Miss Melody Watts is a really important girl. At least for Merdian. He loves her and that doesn't let him understand that she will never leave that bed.”

She slowly turned her head to her right and took a deep breath, trying to pretend that all that problem with that girl was a really importing thing for her.

“What are you trying to tell me?” I asked her.

“Everyone has already faced the fact that she won't ever wake up and it is pointless to... Let her live in that...body. I am asking you,” she turned her eyes at me, meeting my gaze, ”to convince The Spring family to let her die. It will be only for the best.”

She wasn't my patient, that was clear. She was only a woman who tried to... what? To persuade me that the girl I had seen before, had to die. I didn't believe she could awake either, but I wasn't eager to tell that to the Spring men. That Meridian seemed really stubborn not to let remove all those wires from the girl.

“I can only imagine what kind of things you had to experience, but I am not that person to whom you should speak. I only do what I was told to do. Maybe you should speak with...”

“I tried. Mr. Spring doesn't agree, because his son refuses to listen to him, and because of that, he is forced to...connive.”

Her fingers slowly snaked to her neck where a really expensive necklace was lying. I didn't know what I should or could tell to this woman. This topic was really not the topic I would like to discuss. After all, that patient was new to me and I needed at least a few days to understand all this situation and how I could help that girl if it was possible, of course.

“My apologies, but I am not able to do what you ask me to do. Miss. Melody is my new patient and I am determined to help her.”

She narrowed her eyes. She wasn't pleased hearing my answer and I wondered why. After all, I was trying to give her hope that maybe not everything was lost. That maybe a miracle would happen and Melody would open her eyes.

“You can't tell things like that,” she snapped. ”Melody is dead to everyone except Meridian. He believes she will come back to him. But that is a lie he is feeding himself. She won't do that. She is dead. Try him to force to understand that.”

She stood up and quickly walked out from my cabinet, leaving me stunned. What had just happened here? Why was she so furious suddenly?

I shook my head like that could help me to forget this accident, but it didn't. I was so puzzled right now. What I could really understand, that this Melody was a pain in many humans' lives.

Melody

I heard the door opening again, but this time steps were different. I couldn't understand if it was a woman or a man. I just knew that this was a human. He was slowly approaching to my bed. He didn't say anything, just stood there, not far away from me. I heard how his clothes created sounds when he moved.

I imagined him looking at the screens, trying to understand something from all those numbers. After all, most of people who came here did that. They didn't talk with me, because they knew I won't answer, but that didn't mean I didn't want to hear their voices. It was so depressing to be here alone, hearing only my own thoughts. Suddenly he started to speak. For my surprise, it was a man. He was introducing himself. It seemed that he was my new doctor. Really? So where did my previous doctor disappear?

It was nice to hear a new voice and sad at the same time, because I knew that I won't ever be able to say a word to that person who was with me in the same room now.

He lingered a little and walked out from the room, leaving me alone. I wanted to scream to him not to go. I was eager to hear more of his words, to forget that I was left here to be only with my own demons.

I was so cold suddenly. That darkness which was my friend and enemy, was teasing me. It knew that I would be able to feel only coldness, although the world around me was warm.

Warm...

Caspar

Warm, I thought when I entered into my apartment. The night was cold and I had to stay longer in my cabinet, reading all those files, that I was intending to. But at least I won't be busy so much tomorrow...I checked my clock on the wall.

I collapsed on my bed, trying to figure out what I really should tell Mr. Spring and his son when they would come. That woman managed to plant a doubt in my head which bothered me all day long. I wasn't sure anymore if I really should accept to be that girl's doctor.

But still, seeing her in that bed...she was so pretty...

I closed my eyes, but after some minutes I was forced to opened them. I heard my telephone ringing. Somehow I stood up, walked, took it and opened my mouth.

“Hello,” I said yawning.

“I hope you didn't sleep,” I heard my brother's laugh. Yes, he always knew when he should call me.

“What do you want?” I asked politely, although I should yell at him, telling that he should stop calling me so late. After all, I wanted to be in my bed, sleeping, dreaming...

“Guess?” he teased me.

“I would rather not,” I said honestly. My mouth opened to make one long yawn.

“Who is in a bad mood?” he really didn't understand how he should talk with his elder brother. After all, he lived in a nice house only because I had a good job in this stupid society.

“I will have a busy day, so I need to sleep. Tell me what you need,” I said in a serious tone.

“Oh,” I imagined him rolling his eyes, but I didn't care.” I just wanted to tell you that I was accepted to do my practice.”

“Really? Where?” I asked, although I didn't care. He still won't be as good as I was in the medicine. He just studied that because I made sure he could enroll to those studies and could have some kind of profession.

“I will give you a hint. My brother works there,” he said, trying to kill a laugh in him.

“You are joking,” I said, collapsing on the ground. “Why am hearing that from you?”

I imagined him shrugging.

“I don't know. Maybe you didn't notice a document telling you that your little brother will be your assistant,” he guessed. He was telling the truth. I didn't notice anything informing me about his two week being with me in one building. Maybe I was too tired to read other documents on my table which weren't about my new patients.

“When will you start?” I asked, feeling so tired, so stupid.

“I don't know. Mr. Offman didn't confirm if he agrees to supervise his little brother,” now I heard anger in his voice. That was the main reason he was calling to me; he wanted to find out why I was delaying to sign the documents.

“I will sign it tomorrow...today, I mean. Is that all?” I asked, closing my eyes.

“For now,” he said and ended the call.

He was mad. I could tell that. But I really didn't notice any documents or maybe I didn't want to see anything after spending hours reading about people I didn't know. One way or another, I would try to find that stupid paper and put my name on it in order to let my brother come and see how hard I work.

I walked back to my room, put my head on the pillow... and fell into sleep.

I didn't know how long I slept, because I soon heard my alarm clock. I pushed the button to kill its stupid scream and left my warm bed. I quickly took a shower, than ate my breakfast and walked straight to my job. I met Chelsea on the stairs. She was chatting with her friend, but when she noticed me, she quickly ended her talk and approached me. Her hair was loose today, revealing how long and pretty it was.

“Hi,” she said. Her dark eyes stared at me. ”How was you first day in Mrs. Mathew cabinet?”

“Terrible,” I said honestly. ”I spent my time reading files of people who have money to do what they want.”

She lifted her eyebrows.

“That is the life. But I could guarantee you this day will be much more interesting than the last one,” she said. Her hand quickly brushed against mine. I didn't know if it was an accident or if she really indented to do that. But one way or another, it was nice to feel someone's touch.

“I hope so,” I nodded, trying to forced my face to create a smile, but I felt too tired even to do that.

“I know it.”

She walked with me to my cabinet, in which I found two men sitting, waiting for me. Why couldn't they just come in middle of the day. Why were they so determined to find out my decision?

Oh, yea. That guy loved that girl and wanted not to waste precious time, because ever second was a matter of life-and-death.

“Good day,” I said, taking a seat. I noticed that Meridian wasn't happy to see me. At least not only I felt like that. The feeling was mutual Mrs. Spring seemed to be in good mood. He was sitting, studying me.

“Good day, Mr. Offman. We came here to hear your decision,” he took the bull by the horns.

“Yes,” I said, taking a deep breath. ”I decided to be her doctor, but I still want to tell you that her condition is really bad...”

“Don't start that topic,” Meridian warned me in a threatening tone. ”Melody is alive. She will wake up and you will do everything in order to wake her as soon as possible.”

What could I actually say after hearing these words?

“Of course she is alive,” I decided to agree with that fact,” but...”

“Mr. Offman, we understand everything. You don't need to repeat those things for us. We just wanted to hear your answer. Now we know that you have agreed. So, I think,” his eyes slowly turned to the files on my table, ”you will do everything what is in your power. We will give you as much money as you need.”

Meridian glanced at his father, before he stood up and bend to take files from my table. At first I didn't understood what he was doing, but when I finally realized, I tried to stop him, but he just ignored me. He opened the window and threw all those files out.

“Melody is your only patient from now on,” I heard Mr. Spring saying. “Other people will be only a distraction which you don't need.”

I was stunned, amazed, angry, scared. Maybe I really made the bad choice.

“But,” I heard my voice.

“No buts, Mr. Offman. Melody has been in coma for two years now. Even I understand it isn't a good thing.”

Meridian sat back to his chair and shoot his angry eyes at me. He didn't think I would be able to help his beloved, but still he listened to his father who said I could do something what could force her to opened her eyes.

“We would like to hear everything about the progress,” Meridian added.

I nodded, because I didn't trust my mouth. Now I really doubted my day would be better than the last one.

“So, good day, Mr. Offman,” Mr. Spring said and rose up with his son. They both looked at me for some seconds, and then they walked out, leaving me alone.

I stood up and walked closer to the window. On the ground I saw my files and some people who tried to collect them. They didn't ask anyone about them, because those people knew who they were and where they were here. It could cost a lot for them if they would decided to give questions.

I shook my head and sat back. On my desk I noticed a document which I didn't see yesterday. It was the agreement to let the medicine students do their practice here. I quickly put my signature on it. After that, I walked out from my cabinet. I decided to visit my new and only patient. How lucky I was. Only one person for me to take care of. But it also could be a really bad thing. For some reason I had an idea in my head that Mr. Spring would do everything in order to force me really to do something to wake that girl.

The guard greeted me with curious eyes. He didn't stop me when I asked him to let me in. He even nodded and opened the door. In the room I found Meridian. He was sitting on the bed's edge, staring at the girl. In his hands I saw her palm.

He didn't glance at me when I walked closer to him. I stood still for some minutes, studying the girl and her none-existing-reaction to Median's touch.