SHATTERED HOPES

CONNOR

I had just finished doing the ward rounds for the morning and had sunk into my office chair, ready for my hot cup of tea, but suddenly, I didn't feel like taking anything anymore.

The walls of my stomach felt stiff, leaving me wondering if I truly had to go to the restroom again barely two hours after the last time I went.

 But then, I was waiting for a call for one of my patients, and I had a spreadsheet to quickly inspect.

Deciding on just water, I settled in to work on my computer.

Not too long after, a quick knock broke against my door. Then, Claire came in with her hands hanging like they normally would when there was an emergency.

There was this sense of urgency in her expression that made me almost grab my lab coat from the hanger in readiness to attend whatever medical emergency it could be.

"There's someone asking to see you," she dropped finally, causing me to sit back in my chair disappointedly.

"C'mon Claire. You're not new to this job. You know my schedule and you know very well that I don't take visitors till afternoon."

"I know sir. It's just this visitor is Eddison Langford and I know you'd rather not send him away," Claire said finally, her eyes plopping from side to side.

"Send him in," I said in a low tone, not bearing to look at my secretary's face again. Even the laws bend when it needs to.

"Eddison Langford," I called out, as soon as his figure appeared out of the door.

"Dr. Connor. Nice to see you again," he responded, causing a hard lump to form in my throat.

Eddy had not yet apologized for proposing that unreasonable suggestion between me and his wife during the family event, and since then, we haven't really been on the best of terms.

The last time we met was the last time we spoke about allowing Lola to go to a baking school.

So far, everything has been sailing smoothly, except my relationship with him. It was still rocky. He might not admit it, and I won't be the first to either.

Not to lie, it was a surprise of concern that he was right inside my office this early.

"It's been long indeed. How is work at the office?" I replied, trying as much as I could to sound cheerful — a mask I knew I always need to wear around people, especially Eddy.

"Work is great as usual. I give my all to the company, as always."

Eddy always had his way with the final words.

"Uuhm...,how is the family?" I asked, fighting the urge to ask him to go straight to the point because I had work to do this morning and no mental strength to deal with his attitude.

"Family is good. You should try to build one, you know. It is a great thing to have."

"Yes. I am working towards it," I replied, holding it down with all of my might.

"Well, that is not why I am here," he said, letting himself into one of the visitors' seats.

I adjusted in my position, continuing to stare steadily at him.

I didn't notice the brown envelope he had trapped between his fingers when he walked in until he slapped it hard on the table, immediately pushing it towards me.

"What does it contain?" I asked as I picked it up with an impatient curiosity and proceeded to tear it open. It was light, I couldn't guess its content until I dug into it to retrieve a couple of printed pictures.

Looking from one picture to the other, I wondered how it happened and how Eddy was able to get hold of them.

Carefully, I looked at the pictures again, running my fingers through my hair in utter confusion on what to say.

More than how strained my thoughts were on what was before me, my fists clenched hard to the frustration that was insistently building up in my chest.

My throat itched with dryness and the more I stared at the images, the more I felt the urge to find out everything I could about the man, especially why he had to pull such a stunt at this crucial time.

Eddy just sat still, his hands folded beneath his jaw, watching me leap from one emotion outburst to the other.

"So, you would agree with me now that Lola deserved every sh*t I have ever dished her. Imagine that? She has no freaking respect for me outside, and I'm supposed to worship at her feet?" Eddy thundered, grabbing the edge of the table as if trying to contain her anger.

"Eddy, I think..."

"I won't take any more word from you in her favour. I refuse to hear it," Eddy cut me off before I even spoke what I thought.

As much as I didn't think that was enough reason for pictures like that to be taken, I knew I had to say something to save the moment, at least, "Maybe, this could be a misunderstanding."

Eddy shot me a hard glance of disgust like I had spat right into his left eye.

"Maybe we could give Lola a chance to explain herself. We can't just make conclusions based on a couple pictures," I forced myself to finish.

I watched Eddy's eyes narrow, the way a business man would while looking at the losses from a stock they had trusted enough to bulk buy.

"You know what, Connor?" I adjusted forward in response. "I don't know how much you love my wife to want to support her even when her sins are staring you right in the face."

I swallowed.

"Eddy, please stop! I am not going to go back and forth with you again on this."

"Then be reasonable, man! Be honorable at least. Or maybe you could spare yourself some form of respect!" he thundered, slamming his big palms hard on the table, its contents rattling to the pressure.

I stared hard at him, guilt and pride pushing searing painfully through my chest.

"I didn't come here today to seek permission from you on how to handle this. I am here because of the goodwill our friendship had sprouted."

"Eddy!"

"Stay still, man. Do not distract me. I listened to you when you asked me to allow Lola to fly with new wings. Now, I have every damn reason to clip them entirely off and I expect you to listen to me on that."

"Eddy..."

Without as much as a last glance, he stood up and stormed out of the door.

I knew the line had been drawn.