Stranger At The Door

"Now I'm here.

That should tell you that I'm safe. I guess it's time for you to leave," Kelly ordered. And when Ciara refused to pay attention to him, he leaned forward, trying to make her stand up. 

 "Dad, please stop doing this.

You're embarrassing yourself, and it's not even funny," She struggled to pull Kelly away. 

"Embarrassing myself? 

For crying out loud, I'm trying to keep you safe," 

"Keep me safe by sending me into the dark? I guess you meant to say, endangering my life because that's what it seems right now. You just said it yourself that it's pretty late. How do you expect to find my way home?" Ciara argued. It was starting to seem like a fierce battle until George stepped in to separate the Father and daughter. 

He hasn't said a word since Kelly walked inside. It's almost like George wasn't inside. 

George cleared his throat to announce his presence. "Like seriously, Kelly. Do you realize I am here? Or did you just decide to ignore me as though I don't even exist? I tried my best to stay calm and see if you would speak to me, but you never did. Have I suddenly become so small that you can't recognize me?" 

"Accept my apologies, George. 

To be honest with you, I wasn't looking in your direction because I was upset at Ciara. Can you imagine what she just did?" Kelly apologized, at the same time lamenting bitterly to George about Ciara's attitude. 

"What do you suggest I do now? 

 Are you even listening to yourself right now? I got my issues and you want to bother me with yours? Who does that?"

George bemoaned. His involvement in the interception was Ciara's saving Grace. Else, Kelly was prepared to walk Ciara to the road and board a cab home. 

"Where's my son? 

Why isn't he here with you? 

I don't want to believe that you failed to convince him to come to the hospital with you?" George asked, hitting the nail on the head. 

He wasn't bothered about the altercation between Kelly and Ciara. All he cared about was finding out if Dexter had signed the damn signature. 

"I was able to convince Dexter to come to the hospital with me," Kelly explained without actually hitting the nail on the head. He paused and waited for George to ask the next question. 

As expected, George drew his ears closer. "And? I don't want to believe that was all that happened. You claimed that Dexter came with you. Why can't I see him?"

"He left after signing the consent form," Kelly finally explained. 

"He did what?" 

George tossed off the bed. 

"Why would you let him leave? 

Didn't you show him to my ward?" George cried with a loud voice. 

"Don't be mad at Kelly. 

He did his best." A voice spoke behind, which was accompanied by the arrival of Doctor Escobar. 

"Doctor Escobar? 

How long have you been standing outside listening to our conversation?" 

George was astonished. The look on his face best tells it all. 

"Long enough to know that your son needs some real tutoring. Is he always like that?" Doctor Escobar dropped the coldest response ever. He wasn't bothered whether George would find it offensive or not.

 He was determined to speak the truth because he knew that was the only time they got to have such a discussion. 

"You don't speak about my son that way in front of me. Come on, Doctor. Show some respect," George demanded. 

"There we go again. 

That's precisely what I was talking about. You still had the guts to protect and support your son after he abandoned you in the hospital? That's the most ridiculous thing I've witnessed from anyone," Escobar smirked. 

He utilized the opportunity to pour out his heart to George without leaving any stone unturned. 

"Okay. That's enough! 

I don't want you two fighting like kids. 

We are here for a reason, and I demand we focus on that," like a leader, Kelly called for peace. 

Focusing his gaze on Doctor Escobar, Kelly added. "As a doctor, you have to prioritize the health of your patient. Unfortunately, you keep worsening it. What kind of doctor are you?" 

"Criticizing accepted. 

Do I need to remind you that as a doctor, I have to advise my patients on issues regarding their health? Why do I have a feeling that Dexter was the cause of his father's heart attack? From what I witnessed from him today, he might as well do worse. That boy isn't done yet. And this time, George might not be lucky," Doctor Escobar spoke tirelessly as they all listened endlessly.

 He was the last to speak as a knock on the door interrupted the heated argument. 

They all paused and wondered who would knock on the door of a hospital. 

"Who's that?

Come inside!

You don't have to knock," Doctor Escobar said. Absolute stillness enclosed the atmosphere like a graveyard. 

Despite Doctor Escobar's approval, no one showed up. This single act from the stranger created tension in the minds of everyone as they wondered who could have been responsible for pulling that stunt on them when they were still tackling the menace of Dexter. 

"I have got to check who's at the door," Ciara volunteered herself and stood up. 

"Stop right there 

Where do you think you're heading to?" Kelly stopped Ciara as she was about to go check who knocked. 

"What does it seem like I am doing, Dad? Of course, I want to go find out who's knocking at the door. Don't you dare stop me because I won't listen to you," Ciara clapped back at Kelly. 

Attempting to stop Ciara. 

But unfortunately for him, she was too fast. Ciara already knew Kelly's next move before he even thought about it. 

Approaching the doorway, Ciara went mute after seeing who was behind the mysterious knocks. Her lips were glued. She wasn't able to move them. 

"What's the problem?" Kelly asked with curiosity. She kept him silent for the numerous times he asked her. 

"I can't do this anymore 

I have got to go find out what's stopping you from speaking," Kelly said. He couldn't endure Ciara's treatment anymore.