A GIRL?

Doctor Hardy checked his time and wondered why Daniel hadn't come home since he was spending the night at his place. He knew that Daniel did not like staying out late so he called him again.

As Daniel picked up the call, his anxious voice said to Doc, "I have an unconscious lady with me and I'm currently driving her to your hospital. Please meet me there."

Doc became alarmed, "Did you get into an accident?"

"No, I didn't," Daniel replied, "Please come right away, I will explain everything."

Doc replied "okay," before rushing out of the house and driving to his hospital. He had taken a week's leave in order to spend more time with his best friend, however, it wasn't even up to three days yet and Daniel had already dragged him back to the hospital.

When Daniel got to the hospital, he met Doc already waiting for him. Ivy was immediately taken in for treatment.

As Daniel took his mind back to the scene at the cliff, he shuddered at what could have happened if he had dallied. Someone almost died in front of him and he would have lived with that guilt for the rest of his life.

What could have made her attempt suicide? He recalled all the names he heard her calling and wondered if they had anything to do with it. Women were always troublesome and this one certainly wasn't an exception.

When Doc finally came out to meet Daniel, he had a solemn look on his face.

"Is she alright?" Daniel quickly asked.

Doc sighed, "Well, she is asleep for now. Daniel, that girl has been badly abused, she has bruises all over her body and the fresh wound on her back is a sign that she was recently burnt with something hot."

"What? Who would do something so inhumane?" Daniel asked.

Doc tapped him on the shoulder and said, "not everyone is as kind-hearted as you are, my friend. There are so many evil people in the world but do not worry, I will make sure she gets the best treatment."

"I want to speak to her," Daniel said. "I will like to know what happened."

"Are you sure you want to get that involved?" Doc asked. "I thought you found women extremely annoying."

"I still do," Daniel replied, "however, I can't just walk away from this, you were not there when she attempted suicide Doc, it was quite terrifying for me. If I don't try to help her, she might try to kill herself again and this time, there may be no one to stop her. What kind of King would I turn out to be if I let such a thing happen?"

Doc smiled, "That is so like you, Daniel. Alright then, I know that her situation tugs at your heartstrings. Once she is awake and able to speak, you can talk to her. Let me round up so we can go home."

"Thanks a lot, man, I owe you one," Daniel said.

"Anything for his Royal Majesty," replied Doc

Ivy's POV

I woke up to the smell of disinfectant. After a few minutes of disorientation, I finally realized I was in a hospital.

I recalled what happened the previous day. In a moment of weakness, I had sought the easy and cowardly way out. I allowed myself to be blinded by pain and overcome by misery.

Someone had saved my life when I stood on a precipice and brought me to the hospital. I wondered who it was and felt immensely grateful to this person. I didn't have any money to pay and I didn't know where to go from here.

My body wasn't in as much pain today as it was yesterday but I still felt weak and drowsy. "My situation is really pathetic," I thought to myself. Just then, the door opened and two young men walked in. One of them seemed to be a doctor and smiled freely while the other just stared at me silently.

I tried to sit up but the doctor said, "no, just rest. You haven't fully recovered. My name is doctor Hardy and this is the gentleman that saved you last night."

As I looked at his face, I couldn't tell what he was thinking, I smiled and said, "thank you very much for saving my life. I'm sorry to have troubled you."

He seemed to relax a little before walking over to my bed. He said, "you're welcome, I hope you no longer have any suicidal tendencies."

I shook my head and said, "no, last night was a mistake, a moment of weakness. I will never let it happen again."

"That is a wonderful resolve," he replied. Life is precious and should never be taken for granted, but, what exactly happened that pushed you to that point? The people whose names you called, did they cause your injuries?"

I was suddenly reminded of what I had gone through, the image of Victor pinning me down while Abigail burnt my back flashed through my mind, and the memory of the pain I had experienced caused tears to involuntarily flow through my eyes.

He placed his hand on my head, tapping it gently in a soothing manner, "it's okay, you're safe now. Everything will be okay, go ahead and tell me, I'm all ears."

Surprisingly, this made me feel a lot at ease. I had felt so alone for a long time. Even though it was a stranger, having someone else listen to me while I poured out my heart made me feel so much better.

I told both of them everything, beginning from my life in my father's house to how I suffered in Victor's house.

They both listened patiently while occasionally asking me a few questions. When I finished narrating my life story, the taller guy who tapped my head earlier on said, "it's okay. My name is Daniel. I want to assure you today that I will make all those who have hurt you pay."

"No please!" I quickly refused. I was afraid of accepting such favors from him because of what happened between Victor and me. He had promised to always fight for me and protect me but in the end, he worked alongside my enemies to destroy me.

I know I disappointed him by not giving him a child but I didn't make myself barren, it wasn't enough reason for him to be so cruel to me.

Moreover, Victor had told me his family was highly connected and he had ties with the royal family. I didn't know who this Daniel was. What if he ended up in trouble while trying to get Justice for me? So I immediately refused.

He stared at me for a while before asking, "is it because you are afraid, or do you still love your ex-husband? Is that why you don't want to get Justice?"

"No," I replied. "I don't want to bother you too much that's why and I've never loved Victor. I agreed to marry him back then because I thought it was the best option for me since I didn't have anyone else.

If you really want to assist me any further, then please, help me get a job that comes with accommodation so I can pay my hospital bills and stand on my own."

Daniel's POV

I stared at this lady in surprise. Women were naturally vindictive so I expected her to grab my offer with both hands but she was more interested in standing on her feet.

A lot of women would have used this opportunity to evoke more pity from me and get as much money as possible but she didn't. Impressive, perhaps last night was really a moment of weakness like she said.

"What is your name?" I asked her.

"My name is Ivory Miles but I'm mostly called Ivy."

"Okay, Ivy," I said to her, "I'll get you a job that comes with accommodation but for now, focus on getting better. I will check on you occasionally until you are ready to be discharged. If you need to speak to me about anything, feel free to tell doctor Hardy. He will pass the message."

As I turned to leave with Doc, she said, "wait, Daniel and doctor Hardy, thank you both so much for everything. I'm immensely grateful.

If it's possible, someday, I will like to repay your kindness to me."

I smiled and said, "as you wish ma'am" before leaving both her and Doc in the room.

On my way home, I thought of what to do about my situation. My parents were waiting for me to tell them why I ran out the way I did yesterday but I couldn't come up with a plausible excuse.

My mum welcomed me warmly when I arrived at the palace while my dad acted like he couldn't care less about me. I knew it was an act to get me to submit so I knelt at his feet and said, "forgive me my king for upsetting you."

My dad slapped me lightly on the head and said, "you rascal, do you know how embarrassed you made me feel yesterday? How could my own son run away because of a group of harmless women?"

"You misunderstood me, dad," I immediately lied. "I did not run away but I received an emergency phone call. Someone dear to me was in danger, so I ran out to save her."

Surprised, My mum asked, "a girl? Is there a girl who is dear to you? Quickly tell us about her."

My head began to spin as I tried to come up with a convincing reply. In the end, I nodded my head and said "yes, there is someone I like."

"Why then did you lie to me when I asked you if you have any woman in your life?" My dad angrily asked.

"I'm sorry dad, I didn't mean to lie to you. It's just that the girl in question is not available right now. She is presently schooling outside the country and she can't come over right now because her exams are about to begin."

"You still should have told us the truth," my mum cut in.

"I'm sorry mum, it won't happen again," I promised.

My dad regarded me for a while before saying, "I want to meet this girl, I give you three months to present her before me otherwise, I will go ahead and fix your wedding with a bride I deem suitable for you."

"Okay dad," I said before breathing a sigh of relief. I now had three months to come up with another idea. That was enough time for me but I didn't have or know any girl so closely.

I asked Doc who was affiliated with a lot of ladies to look for a reliable girl for me who could pass for my girlfriend for the time being, however, when Doc reminded me that I would have to get married to the girl I presented to my parents, it made me extremely weak. It was almost a hopeless situation for me.

I spent the succeeding days thinking about what to do while accompanying my dad during his meetings, so much so that I forgot about Ivy. Doc told me a week later that she was ripe for discharge and I was reminded of my promise to assist her with a job.

At this point, an idea suddenly popped up in my head, I considered it for a while and decided to test it out. I wondered what Ivy's reaction would be, though. I inwardly wished that everything would go according to my plans as I drove to Doc’s hospital.