Heartbeat and Halos

Cardium Health Hub Hospital, Azurea, California, USA…

With a table filled with files and documents scattered like autumn leaves, Dr Deane leaned back on his office chair gazing at a distance. The luxurious curtains fluttered with each gust of wind.

Dr Deane sighed unknowingly, sinking into the serenity and emptiness of his office. He was on leave, yet he was still in his office. Staying home wasn't an option for him; he'd be caught in the web of his nagging ‘girlfriend.’

Suddenly, the silence was broken by a loud bang on his door followed by muffled sounds. Dr Deane jerked up, his brows creasing.

The door opened forcibly, breaking a hinge in the process. He stood up immediately, cursing “What in the world!?”. His eyes darted, from his secretary to the security guards and then to the woman they were restricting.

“Argh! Let me go! Dr Deane!” She struggled, her green eyes trembling. Her hair was tattered and her complexion pale.

“What is the meaning of this?” Dr Deane asked his secretary, John.

He straightened his glasses and nervously responded, “Sir, I told her that you didn't want to be disturbed, but she kept persisting, so I called security.”

She was still struggling, grunting as her helpless eyes begged him. “Leave her.”

According to his orders, they left her simultaneously and she stumbled. She got up immediately and knelt, her hands clamped together. “Please, Dr Deane, you have to save my son; he's dying!”

Dr Deane sighed wearily “Madam there are other doctors who can attend to you,"

“Exactly what I told her but she insisted you treat her son,” John added

“You, you're the miracle doctor everyone's talking about. No one else can help my son but you; please help my son,” she pleaded while stuttering.

Dr Deane stared down at her like she was spouting nonsense. He fought the urge to groan loudly and send her away. If he did that, his reputation would stagger.

He sighed in defeat and extended his hand to her. She accepted it, her green eyes flickering with hope. Her son just had a seizure while he was at school because of his heart failure. She believed only the miracle doctor could heal him that's why she fought so much to see him.

“What ward is your son in?” He asked and a helpless smile spread across her face.

The checkup didn't take long; he assured her not to worry. Her son's seizure was mild and he would stay at the hospital for monitoring till he regains his consciousness.

On his way back to his office, he raked his hair with his fingers. His door just got broken, another thing to spend money on…how great.

He stopped after feeling a thug on his coat. He looked behind to find the woman who had broken his door down. A frail female with brute strength.

She looked up at him. Suddenly he felt a thud in his heart. Somehow she looked different now. Maybe it's because her pupils weren't dilated and filled with fright.

Unable to maintain eye contact with him, she hung her head low. “I want to apologize,”

“What for?” He asked.

“even though your secretary said you shouldn't be disturbed I still barged in and created a scene. I want to say sorry.”

He stared down at the Petit woman whose presence exuded a unique scent perpetuated by remorse. Unable to say anything in return, he turned and left.

Dr Deane spent the remaining hours sighing, thinking of all he could've said in response. For the first time, he spent hours overthinking, and at that, about a woman.

The evening came quickly and the night shifters took over. Dr Deane came out of his office; deep down, he prayed not to encounter the woman again; she stirred up his heart in a way he didn't like.

Walking down the hall, his ears twitched at the sound of a familiar harmonious tune. It sounded much like the French song ‘dernier danse’ by Indila, a soothing song.

Curiosity led him and he found himself standing before the door to ward 21. The door was left ajar. He saw her, the woman singing while stroking her son's hair.

Her pitch was high and, at the same time, soft and gentle, picking up each verse with precision. An amiable blend of American and French accents.

His shoulders relaxed and he leaned against the wall, letting each word sink within his very soul. The wave of serenity coming from her voice caused his heart to beat quickly. He closed his eyes and exhaled. His worries slowly leaving him, he muttered, “Warm”.

He was distracted, drowning in the depths of the woman's gentleness, he didn't notice the entrance of a nurse from the opposite path.

“Dr Deane?” she called out in a whisper upon reaching him.

He opened his eyes with a slight frown but quickly fixed his face. Squinting to read her name tag, he said “Nurse cohort,”

She smiled widely, “What are you doing here, doctor?”