Chapter 35
Collins
“Female, seventy-two. Time of death—eight forty-five,” a nurse said softly as I passed in the corridor.
Marlon stood just outside the room, closing the chart when he saw me.
I slowed, the words settling heavy in my chest. He stepped away from the door and joined me near the window at the end of the hall.
“What happened?” I asked.
“Brain tumour. Advanced. Oncology and neuro did everything they could,” he said quietly. “I was consulted earlier for spinal involvement. Cancer doesn’t negotiate.” He exhaled slowly. “That’s the part no one sees when they talk about saving lives. Sometimes all we do is make the ending gentler.”
I nodded, staring at the floor.
“Anna left yesterday,” he added.
“I noticed,” I said. “Her room was already stripped bare.”
Silence sat between us for a moment.
“Are you going to visit her?” he asked carefully. “At home, I mean.”
“Not immediately.”
He studied my face. “I can get you the address.”
“It’s okay. I already have it.”
His mouth curved into a knowing grin. “You do?”
I didn’t answer.
“So,” he teased, folding his arms, “what excuse are you going to use? Since you’re not her doctor anymore.”
“It won’t be an excuse,” I said. “It’ll be a personal visit.”
Marlon raised a brow. “You spoke to her dad already, didn’t you?”
I didn’t deny it.
He shook his head with a quiet laugh. “You’re in deep, my friend.”
Maybe I was. But I wasn’t pretending it was anything else.
“I’m going to be off. I just came to check up on one patient, then I have appointments at my practice,” I said, gathering my things.
“Sure. When are you having a housewarming?” Marlon asked, leaning casually against the doorframe.
“I’m not sure yet,” I replied. “I just want to settle in first. Once everything’s in place, I’ll let you know.”
“Ok, sure, Collins. I’ll see you before then anyway.”
After a long day, I decided to wander into the mall. First stop: a clothing store. My fingers traced the fabrics as I examined the mannequins and glossy posters of models—wondering if I’d even look half as good.
Shopping to impress a woman had never been on my agenda before.
Yet here I was, thinking about Anna, the one woman I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about.
The only time she’d seen me out of scrubs was that night at the bar, when her gaze had caught mine for just a heartbeat too long.
I’d never imagined she’d end up under my scalpel in the OR, needing me in ways no one else ever had.
I selected a few pieces to try on—and somehow, the pile grew. Jackets, shirts, jeans, even shoes. More than I needed, probably more than I intended, but I couldn’t help it. I wasn’t planning on seeing her just once after this. Not if I could help it.
As I wandered through the aisles, a small smile tugged at my lips. Each item I chose wasn’t just fabric—it was a silent rehearsal for the moment I’d see her again. And somehow, that thought alone made everything else fade away.
I arrived home and immediately noticed a familiar car parked outside.
Must be Mom, I thought, wondering how she had tracked down my new address so quickly.
Shrugging off my curiosity, I grabbed my bags from the trunk and headed inside, only to find her in full swing, chatting animatedly with my housekeeper.
“Hey, Mom,” I greeted as I stepped into the living room, trying to sound casual.
“You didn’t tell me you moved! Are you… getting married, my son?” she asked, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“Getting married? No, Mom, why would you even think that?”
“Well,” she said, stepping closer with a knowing look, “this looks a lot like something a young man would do if he were about to get married—swapping his luxury penthouse for a place that’s…more marriage-friendly. Planning a future, perhaps?”
I sighed, dropping my bags by the sofa. “It’s not what you think, Mom. I don’t even have a girlfriend.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Then explain this drastic move.”
“I…needed the cash to open my own practice,” I said, keeping my tone calm but firm.
“You have your own practice now?” she asked, a mixture of surprise and pride in her voice.
“Yes, Mom. Finally.”
“And your friend really should have changed his locks.”
I laughed. “Mom, you can’t just barge into people’s houses unannounced.”
“I didn’t,” she said defensively. “I asked him what he was doing in your penthouse. He told me he bought it from you and gave me your new address.”
I shook my head. “He must’ve had a heart attack when he saw you.”
“Oh, he did,” she said. “Thought I was an intruder—until he realized it was me.”
I could only imagine Marlon’s face.
She shook her head, still half-smiling. “You’re turning thirty-three in the next two months. When are you going to get a girlfriend? You need to settle down…so I can have grandkids.”
“Soon, Mom. Soon,” I replied, forcing a chuckle, though I could see she wasn’t fully convinced.
Her eyes flicked to the mountain of shopping bags stacked in the corner. “And what’s with all this?” she asked, gesturing toward the bags.
“I thought I’d pick up a few things…you know, get myself ready. You said you want to see me settle down, right? Well, first, I need to dress to impress.”
Her expression softened into a smile, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. “You'd better make that happen soon.”
“I know, Mom. I know,” I said, feeling both exasperated and warm at the same time. Somehow, she always had a way of making me feel like a young boy again—even at thirty-two.