Alicia’s thoughts bounced around in her head like a mad Ping-Pong ball as her primary care doctor spoke to the doctor on duty that evening. Unless she could find a way to kill herself while still in the hospital—which she highly doubted—she had to keep it together long enough to return to the streets she dreaded so much, so she could get the job done there.
She could kick herself for not killing herself, regardless of method, before this shit happened. Now she was stuck in a hospital bed with an arm that felt like a hot iron was being pressed against it. She had the sudden urge to strangle the guy responsible for putting her where she was—maybe even shoot him with his own gun before borrowing a bullet for herself. Besides terrorizing people, he had helped prolong her helplessness, even if she enjoyed running into the sexy doctor and chatting with her.
Just why was the doctor at the hospital with her anyway? Okay, so she was there when the incident happened—she understood that much—but this wasn’t her turf. Wasn’t her turf the medical building where she saw her patients and not the hospital?
She stared emptily at the darkness beyond the hospital window. Less than forty-eight hours ago, she had a home and some semblance of a life. Now she had nothing but boxes stored in a sickly friend’s cramped little house that seemed ready to fall apart at the seams.
Just then, the beautiful doctor returned with news that would damn near blow her mind.
“Hey,” she said in a soft voice, wearing that sexy smile of hers that was one of the first things Alicia had noticed about her—along with how young and tall she was. At five feet ten inches, the doctor had just about a foot on her.
Alicia forced a smile. “Is everything okay?”
“Well, I think I can help get you back on disability.”
Alicia hadn’t expected that. “Really? But how?”
“Not to offend you or anything, but you’ve been rather anxious lately, as you yourself said, and I wonder if this has been going on for years and not just months.”
Alicia shrugged. “Yeah, I guess it has. Only it’s gotten worse lately. But we all get a little anxious here and there, Doc. I don’t see how they’d reinstate me on account of a few anxious moments—even if it’s a little more than a few these days.”
“Well, I think that between the anxiety, the sleeplessness, the ADHD, and things like that…”
“I may be a more qualified nutjob than I gave myself credit for, huh?” Alicia finished with a sarcastic smile and a matter-of-fact tone.
The doctor chuckled. “Some things, if they’re a little extreme, may qualify as a psychiatric disorder.”
“Even if I were a genuine loon, am I genuine enough to qualify?”
“Well, that’s the thing—you don’t have to be crazy. You know, as in insane.”
“I can just be a little off?” Alicia said with a smile that let the doctor know she wasn’t offended.
“We’ll work out all the details later on. First, let’s just get you better, get you out of here, and then we’ll go through the paperwork and see if you qualify.”
We?
“The most important thing I wanted to tell you is that you no longer have to worry about being on the streets or in shelters or anything like that. I would like to—with your approval—step aside as your doctor and have you come stay with me until you can manage on your own, regardless of where your income comes from.”
Now that was something Alicia really hadn’t expected. The petite native New Yorker was speechless. After a moment or two, she finally found her voice. “Oh, wow. Just… wow. You would do that for me?”
Alyssa smiled and nodded.
“Wow. Just really wow. I’m so shocked that I’m literally at a loss for words. Or maybe there simply aren’t any to express how much I appreciate you for saving me.”
“It’s no problem at all. There are some arrangements that need to be made, and possibly some paperwork to go over.”
“Paperwork?”
“Well, to be perfectly honest with you, Alicia, the hospital may be concerned no matter where you went in your case due to all you’ve been through.”
“Wow again. I didn’t think they’d consider that. I thought their only job was to treat people who come in here, and that’s it.”
“Well, technically, my only job is to see my patients at the medical center and leave it at that. But I simply can’t walk away from this with a clear conscience. As I’ve been reminded, I can’t save them all, but I don’t have to not at least try to help someone I see in need.”
Alicia’s eyes watered with gratitude. “Thank you,” she said shakily.
Alyssa placed a hand on her shoulder. “One day at a time, sweetie. One day at a time.”
“I can’t thank you enough,” Alicia said, “but why the paperwork?”
“Well,” Alyssa said, choosing her words carefully, “what I’d be doing is basically signing papers saying that I agree to do what’s best for you.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize you had to do that. I trust you enough with a verbal promise and don’t feel the need to have it in print, just so you know.”
Alyssa laughed. “Yeah, but I’d be able to help you even more in print. That way, if you were ever unable to make decisions about anything, I’d be legally able—and obligated—to help you out.” She noticed the look of confusion on Alicia’s face, turning to skepticism. “It’s not like you’d be treated like a kid or anything like that. You wouldn’t have to tell me every single thing you did or ask permission to dye your hair or something crazy like that.”
“Oh.”
“It’s only for more extreme situations. You’d still be your own boss, and your life would still belong to you. But since you don’t drive, it would be up to me to see to it that you got where you needed to go. Meaning that if I couldn’t drive you, I could at least arrange for someone else to get you around. And of course, you could walk or take the bus in some cases, too.”
“I see.”
“So all I have to do is know what you’re up to—say, if you wanted to go out with a friend or something. That way, if you ran into trouble of some kind, I’d at least know where you were and whom you were with so I could help. As long as someone in my household knows what’s going on with you, that’s all that matters.”
“Someone in your household? Where do you live?”
“With my parents, believe it or not.”
“With your parents?”
Alyssa nodded. “They’re great people. You’ll love them. I was studying and working abroad for a while, and when I came home last year, it was decided that I’d stay with them while I paid off student loans and saved for a house.”
“That’s great that you have them to help you save money so you can get ahead faster like that.”
“Yeah,” Alyssa said with a smile. “When I pick out my first house, I want it to be my last house as well, so it’s not something I want to jump into or be overly quick about.”
Alicia agreed.
“Alicia, have you ever lived alone?”
Alicia shook her head. “Not for the most part, anyway. It’s one of those things I could do but would rather not.”
“It’s just not for you, huh?”
Alicia shook her head.
“Nothing wrong with that. Some people need a helping hand at times, you know?”
Alicia nodded, realizing the doctor recognized she wasn’t a great candidate for solo living. “So do we have to go to court or anything like that for the paper signing?”
“Oh, no—nothing like that. At least I don’t think we will. But if it’s decided that it’s best I’m given power of attorney, or whatever they want to call it, over your critical needs, then maybe. I have to talk to some people first. I just wanted you to be the first one I spoke with to see if you’d go for the idea. I mean, I at least thought you might prefer a warm, toasty house with someone you’ve met a few times as opposed to the streets or worse.”
Alicia smiled as she studied the doctor’s eyes intently, as if searching for something deep within them. Then she said, “I’m not going to lie to you, Doc. First, I took an immediate liking to you and felt instantly comfortable with you the first time we met.”
The doctor flashed a smile and seemed both amused and flattered.
“Secondly, do you really think life on the streets would’ve been acceptable to me?”
Now the doctor seemed unsure of what she meant.
“I wasn’t going to live on the streets, Doc. Not now. Not ever. I was going to kill myself.”
“Oh,” the doctor softly breathed.
“You’re not saving me from the streets. You’re saving my life. Consider yourself a heroine.”
ns216.73.216.236da2
and then Add to home screen.