Page 83 of Fixation
This basement. This silence. It’s waking something up in me.
Bit by bit, I feel my creativity creeping up on me.
And in a way, it feels nice. Returning to my body. To myself.
I’m safe here.
Safe enough to let go.
Safe enough to fall asleep.
14
ANDERSON
Another scheduled day off work means another day I get to spend at home with Harper.
I should be happy. Calm in her presence.
I’m anything but.
My patience has been running thin over the past two hours. That’s how long I’ve been waiting for her to wake up.
My pacing scorches a path in the floor. My muscles flex against my green scrubs.
For once, I can’t stand her silence. The heavy lids over her eyes.
She’s here and I miss her.
I’m about to go down there and wake her up when my phone rings.
A call from the hospital.
I nearly throw the damn thing against the wall.
Nothing is as important as Harper.
Even if the beeper went off, she’d still be my priority.
Unfortunately, I have to get this. Have to maintain this semblance of normalcy.
Because once the gossip starts, it’s nearly impossible to stop.
“Dr. Maguire.” My voice is clipped, sending a message across.Don’t bother me unless it’s important.
“Hi, hello, it’s Millie.” One of the attending nurses. “We need you to come in early tomorrow. A hospital benefactor is scheduled for surgery and requested your supervision.”
The vein in my throat pulses.
Special treatment.
Truthfully, though, their entitlement isn’t what really pisses me off. It’s those precious hours I’ll be forced to be there instead of here.
“No.” My firm refusal leaves no room for argument.
Unless it’s an emergency, I won’t leave her a second before I have to.
“Dr. Bennet told him you’d be there. He promised.”
