Chapter 6 ~ Old Faces, Unhealed Wounds

Chapter 6 ~ Old Faces, Unhealed Wounds

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The next morning.

Nora woke with a headache that felt like war drums pounding inside her skull; sleeping on time hadn’t fixed a damn thing.

She couldn’t stomach food—hell, she couldn’t even look at it. But she forced herself through the motions: shower, clothes, all of them, like a robot running low on battery but still moving.

Instead of heading straight to the office, she took a detour.

CrestHill Medical Center.

Tucked away on a quiet street, most people ignored it. Perhaps she went because she needed someone who wouldn’t piss her off today, someone to remind her she existed.

Dr. Faith Kia, her doctor, her old friend, and her backup when the world fell apart, was that someone.

Nora walked down the familiar hallway and pushed open the door to her office.

“Oh, my! Mrs. Danyon!” Faith lit up the second she saw her, already getting out of her chair. She crossed the room and hugged her tight. “God, it’s been forever! I’ve missed you, girl.”

Nora didn’t hug her back.

She waited for the door to shut behind them and stepped away from her. “Don’t call me that.”

Faith blinked. “What? That’s your name.”

“Not anymore,” Nora said. “I don’t use it.”

Faith raised a brow. “Alright. So, what do I call you now?”

“Just Nora, or Ms. Nora—that’s what everyone calls me.”

“Just Nora?” Faith tilted her head, lips twitching. “What happened to Bamford? I thought that’s where this whole thing with Noah was heading.”

Nora let out a bitter chuckle, rubbing at her temples. “Nope. Not even close.”

Of course, she knew. Faith always saw right through her, like everyone else, apparently. Like her heartbreak was something she wore like a neon sign.  The kind of pain you dragged around long after the world stopped caring.

Faith folded her arms. “Nora, come on. I may not know what it’s like to bury your entire bloodline in one day, but Jesus. It’s been, what—six years?”

“Ten,” Nora corrected.

“Then for fuck’s sake, move on.” Faith’s voice was filled with frustration, probably because she knew just how much Nora had suffered. “You’re not immortal. You’re not carved out of stone. You’re still breathing. You’re human for Christ’s sake. What the hell are you doing with your life?” She paused, taking a deep breath. “And between us, after Liam… isn’t Noah the only thing that’s made your heart beat since?”

Nora stared at her, taken aback.

Faith went on, recklessly. “Instead of sitting in your grief like it’s some badge of honor, maybe you should just grab that man by the shirt and live a little.”

“Live a little?” Nora’s brows shot up. “That son of a bitch barely looks at me unless he has some nasty thing to say about me. And you want me to what—fuck my way to happiness?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“No, but your fucking face said it.” Nora blurted out in irritation.

Faith laughed, holding up her hands. “Jesus, calm down. I’m your doctor and friend, not your enemy.”

“Well, you’re being a nosy bitch right now,” Nora snapped. “How the hell did you pass med school with that attitude?”

“My charm. And maybe one or two bribes,” Faith said proudly, then burst out laughing. “God, I missed that mouth of yours, still as sharp as ever.”

Nora smiled half-heartedly. “Don’t. Your care is just another word for pity. I don’t need either.”

Faith sighed. “So, what do you need then, my love?”

“Ugh. Disgusting.” Nora rolled her eyes. “You sound like a stray puppy that won’t leave.”

“And you’re like a feral cat who hisses every time someone tries to help. We’re perfect for each other—trauma edition.”

Nora exhaled. “Listen, I didn’t come for therapy. I’ve got a migraine from hell. Just give me something strong enough to knock it out before I lose my damn mind.”

Faith groaned and yanked her chair back. “You are such a buzzkill.” She scribbled a prescription, then paused. “Also, I’m running a quick blood test—”

Nora’s head snapped up. “A what?”

“A blood test. I want to see what’s messing with your system.”

Nora went stiff. Every muscle in her body froze up.

No, anything but that.

She knew where this led. A single abnormal result, and they’d cage her again. Hook her up to monitors. Put her in gowns. Stick needles in her arms. And the nightmares... God, the nightmares.

“No.” Her voice came out harsher than she intended. “I don’t have time for that. I’ve got enough shit waiting at work. Just give me the pills and let me go.”

Faith’s shoulders slumped. “Are you serious?”

“Dead serious.”

“You haven’t had a full check-up in over a year.”

“And I’ve been just fine without it.”

Faith’s voice rose. “No, you haven’t. You look like hell, Nora. You’re pale, twitchy, not eating, walking around like the world owes you something. You’re going to collapse if you keep pushing like this.”

Nora gave a cold chuckle. “Good. Maybe if I drop dead, I’ll finally get some peace.”

Faith froze.

“Don’t joke about that,” she said quietly.

“Who said I was joking?” Nora met her eyes, dark and exhausted. “At least someone would be waiting for me on the other side. Unlike here.”

There was a long pause after Nora said that.

Shortly after observing her, Faith walked over and placed the pills in her hand, her voice calmer now. “Don’t do this, Nora; don’t start checking out now. You already survived the worst.” She said and then sighed. “Just what exactly is the problem? Tell me so we can work it out.”

Nora took the meds without looking at Faith; she couldn’t. “Nothing, Faith. I’m fine.”

“You’re not.”

Without hesitating, she turned for the door. “I said I’m fine.”

“You better come back after work. I mean it. If you don’t, I’m calling an ambulance to drag your stubborn ass back here.”

Nora paused, one foot already out the door. “Thanks for the drugs, Doc. I’ll think about the check-up.”

“Nora—don’t take it on an empty stomach and—”

But she was already gone.

The door swung shut, leaving Faith staring at the empty space she left behind.

She ran a hand over her face and muttered under her breath.

“What the hell am I supposed to do with you?”

Then she walked back to her desk—her heart full and her mind racing with thoughts that shouldn't be there.