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No matter what.
I rounded the corner, coming face to face with his office door that was slightly ajar. I saw him sitting at his desk, his body hunched over with his head in between his hands and once again it stopped me dead in my tracks. The heavy weight of what was devouring him alive had me frozen in place.
He was in a trancelike state, lost in what could only be described as his own personal Hell.
My stomach fluttered, my heart dropped. I was living in, breathing in, settled in his turmoil, becoming one with all his emotions. Watching the good doctor breakdown in front of me was a vision I’d never forget. His body took on a whole different demeanor. The cold, calloused bastard was gone, and a broken man sat in his place, not holding anything back.
Tears rolled down his face, and a desperate heave escaped his chest.
I leaned against the doorframe for support, witnessing his mind and heart going to war with one another. He didn’t stop, and I wondered if he could feel me too. Knowing it was a stupid thought, but it was there, nonetheless.
His rage quickly took over, replacing what felt like the hole in his chest. I blinked, and he grabbed the picture frame he must have been lost in, forcefully chucking it across the room.
Roaring, “Motherfucker!”
I hesitated, nothing more, nothing less.
He stood up so fast, his leather chair slammed into the bookcase behind him. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have thought he was coming after me when his feet started stomping on the ground, hauling ass out of his office. I turned, hiding behind the door. This wasn’t the right time to confront him, and I was beginning to think there would never be one.
As soon as I heard him trampling his way down the hall away from his office, my cellphone rang. Skyler’s name lit up my screen, and panic rapidly took over my senses.
Going from one fucked up situation to the next.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry I left Jackson with Jour—”
“No need to apologize, Camila, I understand. I would have done the same thing had a family member needed me.”
“A family member?”
“Yeah, Jackson told me your mom fell down the stairs, and you had to rush her to the emergency room. He said he told you to take the car, so you wouldn’t have to wait for the bus. I get it. Not a problem at all.”
My eyes widened. “Right. I still should have called and told you, though,” I replied on autopilot.
“Is she alright?”
“Uh huh.”
“That’s great to hear.”
“It is.”
“When family is involved, we lose our minds. Besides, it did Jackson some good to watch his baby sister. He was actually dancing with her like you do when I walked into the house,” she chuckled.
“He was?”
“Yes. Don’t tell him I told you, but I think he’s starting to come around to you.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Anyway, I won’t keep you. Will you be back tomorrow, or do you need a few days to tend to your mom?”
“I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Sounds good. Have a good night, Camila.”
“You too.”
She hung up.
