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Just as I am finishing off the last of the paperwork, I turn to find Stephen walking in, with blood running down his face, being held up by a man who is asking for a nurse to assist. I take a sharp intake of breath which causes both the man and Stephen to look at me. A nurse rushes over with a wheelchair and the man puts Stephen in it.
“Molly,” Stephen croaks out, looking at me. Not sure what else to do, I walk over and grab his hand which he holds onto tightly.
“Are you okay? What happened?” I whisper as I look between him and his friend.
“Molly,” he says again before he passes out and drops my hand, then the nurse wheels him away quickly to a treatment room.
I stand there not sure what to do. I have a quick conversation with his friend who introduces himself as Jake, and he asks me to stay while he makes some calls. I nod as he walks away for privacy, and I stand outside the room where they took Stephen.
The nurse comes out from the room and Jake is still not back yet, so I go in and see Stephen is still asleep. Unsure of what to do and not wanting Stephen to be by himself, I sit in the armchair beside his bed and wait for Jake to return.
I am tired so I lay my head against the back of the chair and admire Stephen as he rests. He really is one of the most handsome men I have ever seen. I feel sad that he is here alone, so I grab his hand and give it a small squeeze. It is something I do with the kids at work when I feel they need support. As I sit here, my eyes start to get heavy, and I curl up in the chair. Feeling relaxed in the quiet room, I close my eyes and quickly fall asleep.
***
7
STEPHEN
I wake up feeling somewhat refreshed, but a steady thump has returned to my head. Albeit a different one to the usual one I get. I go to move but notice a drip in my arm and scratchy linen on my bed. I look around, feeling settled, which is weird because I am clearly in a hospital bed. I lie still, trying to gather my thoughts, and I remember being at the club today to sort out some inventory, but then I can’t remember much after that.
I reach for the call button so I can get the attention of the nurse staff when I hear a small snore and turn to see a tiny figure curled up in the chair beside me, her hand in mine.
I look at her for a moment and then realize it is Molly, the woman who has infiltrated my thoughts for the past 24 hours. I am not sure why we are here, but I like that she is next to me. I watch her uninterrupted, and I am captivated. She looks so peaceful when she sleeps. She is tiny, her delicate body rolled up like a pretzel in the large grey leather armchair with her small hand sitting neatly in my big hand, and her lips a beautiful heart shape. Even though she is small, I feel her presence and it calms me.
I cough and clear my throat which causes her to sit up abruptly. Her hair is pulled into a top knot that sways as she moves. Some pieces of hair fall out and around her face, and I am itching to tuck them behind her ear, but I control my urges knowing that if I touch her, I will not be able to stop.
“Gee, wake me up more gently next time,” she says sarcastically as she rubs the back of her neck. It is only 6pm so I know I have only been here for a few hours. I hide my laugh, so she is a little sassy when she is tired. Good to know.
“As much as I like seeing you waking up next to me, can you explain why I am in the hospital and why you are here?”
Before she can reply, the door opens, and Shaun and Scarlett walk in.
“OMG, are you all right?” Scarlett rushes to me, standing next to my bed and grabbing my other hand. Molly moves slightly and tries to let go of my hand, but I hold on tighter, not wanting to lose our connection just yet.
“I’m not sure why I am here, I remember being at the club this afternoon and walking out the back to answer the side door and then I don’t remember much after that.”
“Jake found you, lying near the door. Someone hit you over the head and left you there. I just sent him to the club to manage tonight, I am glad he got to you when he did.” Shaun comes up and pats my arm.
“I should go...” Molly says and tries to let go of my hand again.
“Don’t go,” I barely whisper, looking at her. I don’t even know her, but the warm feeling I have when she is near me comforts me and it is a feeling I haven’t had in a very long time.
“Oh, hi, I’m Stephen’s cousin, Scarlett, and this is my husband, Shaun,” Scarlett practically pounces on Molly, and I internally cringe at this odd meet the family vibe that is happening across my hospital bed.
“Hi, I’m Molly, I was in the emergency department when Stephen came in, and well, we are acquaintances. Jake asked me to watch him while he made some calls, and I must have fallen asleep. But I really do need to go, I have someone else here to visit.”
Just then, the nurse comes in and with a squeeze of my hand, Molly silently leaves as Shaun and Scarlett are talking with the nurse about medications and moving me to a private wing of the hospital. As with all things, as soon as Shaun asks, his requests are met, and a wheelchair is brought in for me so I can be moved to a private room on one of the floors upstairs. I am still in my clothes, thank God, because I hate those hospital gowns they make you wear. I get into the wheelchair feeling like an invalid; I want to walk, but the nurses tell me hospital protocol says I can’t, so I slump in the chair, wishing this day was over already.
As the nurse pushes me outside of the room to make our way to the elevator, I see Molly at the administration desk, her back to me. She is talking with a doctor, both of them laughing, and I see the doctor reach out and tuck some of her hair behind her ear. I am now cursing myself for not making the same move earlier. Wishing I was the one to be looking after Molly, not some snotty nosed doctor. Is he her boyfriend? Husband? Fuck, I know nothing about her, but I want to know everything.
I can’t see her face, but I know the look in his eyes, it is the same one I have been harboring. Lust, adoration, some of the feelings that I have been grappling with and it appears this doctor is as well. Shaun, Scarlett, the nurse, and I pile into the elevator and the door closes on the visual.
“She seems nice, Stephen, and stunning too,” Scarlett comments, fishing for information.
“That’s Molly, the coffee girl.”
Scarlett gasps. “Oh, you met her again!” After everything Shaun and Scarlett went through, the numerous times fate brought them together, she believes it is a sign that it is meant to be. I have no doubt that in her head Molly and I are already married.
