LOVE AND CHAOS

chapter 2- first spark

Morning arrived. Monday beckoned. The

weather cancelled its drizzly downpour across Miller Heights Hospital for Alice visitors. Sunlight pushed through her room curtains to spread across the room's floor. Alice woke up. She sat straight up while watching the small tea cup on the table near her. She looked at it for a quarter of an hour. After a lengthy stare at it she finally took a sip while making a displeased face. She brought it back.

“I doubted it.” The voice caused her to look. Gerald was standing in the doorway. Alice examined the cup. “What?”she said. “You don't like it.” She looked at him. “How did you figure that out?” “You were looking at it as if it insulted you,” he explained. Alice laughed. “I'm not fond of hospital tea.” Gerald entered the room. “You can see that.” “Do you consume it?” she questioned. “At times,” he replied.

“You're not telling the truth.” Gerald raised an eyebrow. “You just met me for two days and you've already decided to call me a fraud?” Alice smiled. “I can tell.” “Do you have any additional information?” She stared at him for a while. “You rarely smile.” Gerald stopped speaking. “should a problem arise?” She said. “No.” She held the cup again. “You look better when you do.” She included.

Gerald stayed silent for a while after that. Alice took another tea sip so she could avoid meeting his gaze. She felt strange. She had known this man for only two days and yet it felt natural to talk with him. There was no awkwardness or silence between them. Gerald looked down at her chart.

“Your results are good.” Alice's expression brightened. “Really!!! So can I leave?” “Later today,” he replied. She smiled, “Finally.” “You sound like you've been imprisoned.” “I have, It's been two days.” Gerald shook his head. “You're impatient.” “I'm not,” she said. “You asked me three times yesterday when you could leave.” “Because you kept giving me the same answer.” “Which was?” he asked. “Tomorrow.” Gerald smiled. “And now?” “Today.”

She pointed at him. “If you change your mind, I'll report you.” “To whom?” “The hospital owner.” she replied and Gerald stared at her. Alice stared back. Then she suddenly realized what she had said and covered her mouth. Gerald laughed. “You were going to report me to me?” Alice burst into laughter. “I forgot!” “You forgot I own the hospital?” “Yes.” “Interesting.” Alice shook her head. “You shouldn't have told me.” “Why?” “Now I know who to complain to.”

Gerald smiled. “Fair enough.” The laughter slowly faded. Alice looked at him. There was something different in his face now. Something softer, She couldn't explain it. Gerald looked at her too. And for a brief moment, neither of them looked away. Then a nurse knocked and entered. “Doctor, your next appointment is ready.” Gerald stood. “I'll be back later.” Alice nodded. “Okay.” He walked toward the door.

“Gerald?” He turned. “Thank you.” He smiled. “You've said that already.” “I know.” She looked down at her hands. “But I mean it.” Gerald's smile faded into something more serious.“You're welcome, Alice.” He left. Alice watched him disappear. She didn't understand what had just happened but she knew one thing, she was going to miss seeing him when she left.

Gerald returned to his office. He tried to focus on his work but he couldn't. He read a report then another, signed two documents then stared at the third without reading it. His thoughts kept returning to Alice. Her laugh, her questions, the way she looked at him when she said his name. He leaned back in his chair. “This is ridiculous,” he muttered. He had met her two days ago. She was his patient and that was all. At least, that was what he kept telling himself. His phone rang.

David. Gerald answered. “What's up?” “You sound distracted.” “I'm working.” David laughed. “You always sound different when you're lying.” Gerald sighed. “What do you want?” “I need your signature on something.” “Bring it.” There was a pause. Then David said, “Is Alice leaving today?” Gerald looked toward the window. “Yes, why?”

“Because you've been checking her room more than you check your own patients.” Gerald frowned and said, “That's not true.” “Gerald.” “What?” “You're smiling.” Gerald immediately stopped. “I am not.” “You are.” “Goodbye, David.” He ended the call. For several seconds, he stared at the phone. Then, despite himself, he smiled again.

Around noon, Alice sat on the edge of her bed.

Her bag was beside her. Her clothes had been brought from home by Evelyn. She was almost ready to leave. Evelyn walked in carrying a small food container. “I brought you lunch.” Alice looked inside. “Finally!.”She exclaimed. “You're welcome.” Evelyn placed it on the table. Then she looked around. “Where's your doctor?” Alice looked at her.

“My doctor?” “Yes.” “What about him?” Evelyn smiled. “Nothing.” Alice opened the food container. “Don't start.” “I haven't said anything.” “You're thinking loudly.” Evelyn laughed. “You like him.” Alice stopped.She slowly looked up. “What?” “Gerald.” Alice shook her head. “He's my doctor.” “I didn't ask what he was.” Alice looked away. “He's nice.” “Exactly.” “So?” “So nothing.” Evelyn sat beside her. “You smile differently when you talk about him.”

Alice didn't answer. She knew her sister was right. But she didn't want to admit it.

Not yet. There was something about Gerald she liked; It wasn't only his appearance, It was the way he spoke, the way he listened, the way he never made her feel like she was being watched. With him, she didn't feel like someone's employee, or someone's sister, or a woman who had to be careful about every word she said. She simply felt like Alice. And that feeling was dangerous. Because she had never expected to find it in a hospital.

The door opened and Gerald walked in. He stopped when he saw Alice dressed. “Ready?” Alice smiled. “Very.” He checked her chart. “You'll need to avoid putting too much pressure on the ankle.” “I'll try.” “No running.” “I wasn't planning to run,”she replied. “No long walks.” “Okay.” “Take the medication exactly as prescribed,”he added. Alice sighed. “Yes, Doctor.” Gerald looked at her. “Are you making fun of me?” “Maybe.” Evelyn stood. “I'll leave you two,”she said.

Alice immediately looked at her. “Evelyn.”

But her sister was already walking out. Gerald watched the door close then looked at Alice.

"She seems determined to leave us alone.” Alice covered her face. “Don't mind her.” “I won't.” Gerald handed her the discharge papers. Alice looked at them. “So that's it?” “For now.” She looked up. “For now?” “You'll come back for a check-up.” “When?” "Three days.” Alice smiled slightly. “Three days?” “Yes.” “That sounds like a long time.” Gerald looked at her. “It isn't.” She nodded. “Right.” Neither spoke.

Then Gerald said, “You can call the hospital if you need anything.” Alice hesitated.

“Only the hospital?” Gerald understood what she meant. A small smile appeared on his face. “You can ask for me.” Alice smiled back. “I might.” “I know.” He walked toward the door. Alice watched him. “Gerald?” He turned. She wanted to say something but she couldn't find the right words. So she simply said, “See you in three days.” Gerald smiled. “See you, Alice.” He left

Alice stood quietly for a moment.

She didn't know why those four words had made her heart beat faster. Outside the hospital, Evelyn helped Alice into the car. Alice looked back at the building but Gerald wasn't there. She didn't know why she had expected him to be. The car began moving.

She watched the hospital disappear behind them. For the first time, she wondered whether she had left something behind. Not her bag, not her phone but Something else, something she couldn't name. That evening, Gerald stood alone on the hospital's upper floor. The city lights were beginning to appear below. His phone was in his hand and he opened his contacts. His finger stopped. He had Alice's number. It was listed under her patient information. He stared at it, he could call.

But why? There was no medical reason. He locked the phone then unlocked it again. He smiled at himself.

“This is getting stupid.” He put the phone away. At that exact moment, a black car stopped outside the hospital. Gerald glanced down. He couldn't see the person inside. The car remained there for several minutes then it slowly drove away. Gerald watched it disappear into the traffic. He didn't know who had been inside. He didn't know why the car had stopped and he certainly didn't know that somewhere else in the city, another man had just heard Alice's name.

Anthony Marshall sat behind his desk, looking at a photograph.

Alice.

He stared at it for a long time. Then he quietly placed it inside a drawer. For now, he said nothing. The game had not begun, not yet. And Gerald had no idea that the woman he was beginning to care about was already standing at the center of something much bigger than either of them could

doors.