Why does life have to be so hard? Is this how I'm going to carry on?
" Doctor, your food is ready" Ali, the restaurant owner said bringing me out of my compulsive daydream.
" Thank you, Ali" I smiled at him while collecting my lunch from him.
"You're welcome doc, be back soon" he responded, earning a nod from me.
Ali is a nice guy. He has a nice smile and a great physique, plus he makes great food. He is popularly known for having ladies line up at his restaurant just to watch his muscles flex while tossing an omelet....gross
Getting up, I was met with a pair of blue eyes sitting right across me. He held my gaze for a few seconds before looking away. He had a pair of round glasses on, and in his hand was a book titled The Psychology of Money. I had not noticed him sitting there which was very unusual for an observant person like me.
I'm exhausted, I thought to myself.
I walked towards the door and scoffed "Psychology of money" I mumbled on my way out. He looks like he'll be needing it.
I stepped into my room, grabbing a glass and ice-cold water. I gulped down the entire bottle, rendering the glass useless and stripped. Admiring myself for a few minutes as the water hit the right temperature, I soaked myself in the bath.
I've been home for 4 hours and I felt anxious. I felt useless as this was the first off I was having in 12 months. I scrubbed in, and took shifts and calls, just to distract myself. I wasn't nursing a heartbreak like my colleagues thought, but it wasn't any different. I was lonely and mentally drained and the hospital was my haven. How good would it be to be home right now? What would Dad have asked me to do?
Those thoughts crept into my head and I grabbed my phone. I put a call through the family group chat and they all picked one after the other. A bright smile grew on my face as we all started catching up with one another.
Not so long into the call, an unknown number popped on my screen...must be the hospital, I thought
"Aight guys, I have to go, work calls" I apologized, ending the call.
"Hello, Dr. Nurain on the phone" I greeted
Surprisingly, I was met with silence from the other side, unlike the usual "we have a code blue in room 114" that I was used to.
It's not the hospital then, I realized.
" Hi, I'm Omar, the guy from lunch"
At this point, I was confused. What guy from lunch?
"What..." I started but was cut off by his voice
" Blue eyes. I sat right in front of you. Ring a bell?"
No way this was happening...was he stalking me?
And like a psychic, he responded once again
"I'm not stalking you...ma'am, I kind of blackmailed Ali into giving me your number. I hope you don't mind".
"Oh hell yes, I mind. I really mind." I flared, ending the phone call.
Within the same minute, my phone was buzzing Ali's line. He better have a really good explanation for this.
"Hi, Doc..." He started and I could instantly tell there was a big smile on his face.
Smiling? Really? Right now?
"Don't you dare, Ali? What's the meaning of what you did? You really gave out a customer's number to a stranger. My NUMBER," I emphasized.
At this point, I was breathing heavily and my body temperature was rising. I was angry.
"I'm sorry Doc, it's just..." I cut the call before he finished. I'm not ready to listen to any of the fake apologies.
While trying to catch my breath, the same number called back. I decided to pick up and give him a piece of my mind.
"Why did you collect my number? I mean, you saw me, you could have asked." I said, trying my best not to sound rude. After all, it's not entirely his fault.
"Doctor Nurain..." He started. The way my name rolled off his tongue was something I couldn't describe. I didn't like it, but his voice made up for his terrible accent.
"I'm sorry for not being bold enough to ask. It was too sudden for me and I didn't have enough time to process it. I apologize"
Hearing that, I felt a bit calmer but I was still disappointed.
" Okay. I have to go now" I said, coldly and ended the call.
I lay on my bed, thinking about what just happened. It was 6 pm already. I put my gym clothes and trainers on, grabbed a matching head scarf, and stepped out. I plugged in my ear pods and jogged to the gym.
The gym was filled up, exactly how I do not like it but I needed to blow some steam off. Wale, my instructor upon sighting me, had a big smile on his face exposing his cute dimples. I dapped him up and hit it off on the treadmill.
I left the gym by 8 and it was time for Isha already.
"Dr. Nurain..." I heard from a distance.
I turned back, but I saw nothing probably because it was dark or it was in my head.
"Dr. NURAIN" I heard again, this time...clearer.
I halted, determined to let whoever it was known not to scream my name at night.
I swiftly turned, only to be met with a pair of eyes I could never forget, even if I wanted to.
"Imani Nurain I can explain..." He started
I took to my heels and sprinted away from him. I ran so fast I couldn't help but wonder where I got the strength from.
I got home a while later and just as I shut the door, I realized the tears trickling down my cheeks already. It has been a couple of years and I was still hurt.
How could I still be hurt? He is nothing...
I blamed myself and flashbacks from the past started to haunt me.
I gasped, my chest got tighter, I felt there was a knot in my belly and I started sweating. I had to call the hospital, fast.
I reached for my bag and took my phone out. All these while, still anxious and gasping for air.
I was so close to dialing the emergency number when a call popped up.
It was an unknown number but I picked it up anyway, as long as I could get help from this strange person.
"Help....me," I said, my voice so low I could only pray he heard me
"Doctors quarters 1202" and that was the last thing I remembered.