KISSES BEFORE GOODBYE

CHAPTER FOUR.

KELVIN’S POV.

At that moment, my thoughts were shifted from Esmeralda to the text I had just received.

I had worked so hard to build this new life with a more acceptable identity. For a minute there I thought I had escaped. Now the past comes knocking.

I used to live in Singapore as a medical practitioner and the pride of my family.

Being the only child of my parents, I got the best of their love and affection.

I made my parents proud in every step of the way, from being the valedictorian to being the best graduating medical student. Everyone loved me.

I became a medical practitioner at age 25, a feat that had not been recorded in my town for decades. I was super successful.

In less than a year, I became chief of cardiovascular surgery at the biggest medical center in Singapore.

As expected, this spurred a tinge of jealousy in the heart of many around me.

Everything had changed when a patient had died in my arms. She was special to me and I was sure I took more than extra care when handling her case.

Not that it was my fault, but she passed away. Her parents were not having it. Her boyfriend went on a rampage. My life was threatened and in one of the fall outs at the hospital, a staff member died and I was accused of being the murderer.

My license was withheld prior to the investigation which had been going on for three years now.

I went from being the pride of my parents to being an object of ridicule, I lost my fiance in the process too.

I had to leave Singapore for Savannah with the hope of starting a new life. Away from everything and everyone that reminded me of that life.

Most of all, to be safe from the threats I was constantly receiving.

“-but who could this be?” I thought.

“It could be anyone playing a silly trick” I convinced myself.

I had changed my number, my name and everything.

I was practically living a new life. One I created.

I thought of the possibility that it wasn't just a trick, maybe I've actually been found and that would spell doom for me in many ways.

I watched from the windows and saw her sitting up and breathing without the oxygen mask as the nurse attended to her. It was a huge relief. I knew she was in very safe hands.

I turned around and left the hospital premises.

“I got the text here, it's better I don't endanger Es” I thought

It was a hard decision. She was going to wake up and not see me. She definitely would be sad.

If I had been truly found, I might have to run away again. The thought of that made me sick to my stomach. I have found happiness here…how can I leave it behind?

ESMERALDA’S POV.

“The first step to healing is acceptance. You have to come to terms with this diagnosis”.

Those were the words I had heard earlier. They were still engraved in my head as I forced my eyes open.

The anesthesia I was given to help me relax had not worn off completely so I was kinda drowsy.

I looked around and couldn't find Kelvin. Where could he be?

I remembered how I had asked him to leave me alone but he told me he'd be around.

I asked the nurse concerning his whereabouts.

“I haven't seen him since he left in a hurry,” she responded.

Did he really leave me? After all his promises?

“No he wouldn't” I shook the feeling off.

I scoffed.

Had Dr. Nelson told him any while I was asleep? I wasn't sure.

Dr. Nelson was my confidant. He knew almost everything…well, all I guess. He knew about Kelvin and prepared me for the date with him…literally dragging me by the hand.

He was not just my doctor and I have and always will be grateful for him .

I recalled Dr. Nelson telling me to live as happy as

I could. It was also his idea to keep him in oblivion.

“You do not want to chase him away just yet, do you?” He had asked as he convinced me.

“It's still in the first stage. You can live a long, happy and healthy life. Your symptoms are being managed so they won't escalate. We are working towards a suitable treatment plan for you with minimum encroachment in your daily activities and life in general” he had spat out in one breath.

I recalled being concerned about my job because he had said “you need to slow down on the level of stress exerted on your body through your job, that means less shifts and more rest”.

But how?

What was he thinking?

He knows how important my job is to me.

I sighed.

The thought of all this was causing my head to spin faster.

This was a lot.

“This is so not the life I envisioned for myself” I sighed as I closed my eyes. Hoping that this is all just a bad dream I would eventually wake up from.

“You have me, Kelvin too. You will be just fine” his words replayed in my head as if trying to shut my worries away.

I felt nauseous as the tears rolled down my cheeks. I couldn't stop them from falling. I let it all out, “if you're hurting, you'll probably feel better if you cry” a nurse had told me in a whisper.

I wiped my tears as I realised that I wasn't feeling better. My head only ached more.

My eyes were still closed, I hoped to relax.

Just then, a familiar scent filled the room.

It was my “knight in finely woven linen”.

A smile escaped my lips.

He hurried to my bedside smiling.

I returned it. Even more beautifully than he gave.

“How do you feel?” He shot impatiently.

“Hi, you're still here?!’ I responded ignoring the question. I felt like s**t but didn't want to bother him.

“Of course, I'm not leaving. I got worried, you were asleep a long time”

“I'm awake now” I responded as I took his hand, laid back and heaved a sigh of relief.

He moved closer, still staring intently at me. With his gaze locked in mine, it felt like all I needed to navigate this new phase of life was staring back at me.

I felt comforted, I felt heard, I felt needed.

I opened my eyes…and he was gone.

It must be the anaesthesia causing me to hallucinate.

I felt bad for pushing him away initially.

I had called, texted and filled up his mailbox. I still couldn't get a hold of him.

Though I still wasn't void of the doubt. They kept creeping around reminding me that life is short and mine, even shorter.

I thought of the possibility that he had left also, like everyone else. My heartbeat quickened.

“Maybe he found out and he left” I thought again.

He's probably tired of the hospital air. It's been less than a week and two hospital trips already.

Who would stick around for that?

“It's the sad truth, he's gone. I'm probably crazy to think he would've stayed. I'm meant to live a short, boring and lonely life surrounded by white paintings, tasteless food and beeping machines” she sighed defeatedly.