LOVE AND CHAOS

LOVE AND CHAOS Chapter One — Love in the Rain It started to rain heavily. The heavy downpour made roads shine as water rained down so heavily that it began to reflect the streetlights. Gerald Miller watched as it rained from his office's big window. He had looked at the same street for a long time without actually looking. His desk had a file spread out there. He had read the page for the third time.There was a knock at the door. “Doctor?” Gerald turned around. The young nurse appeared at the doorway. He asked, “ is there any problem?” “Downstairs there is an emergency.” she replied. He put a file back together after closing it. “Tell me about it.” “An accident victim. One young woman.” Gerald walked toward the door. The answer to his question was in the emergency unit. The nurse led him down the corridor. The hospital experienced extreme activity that particular evening. Patients were walking through the corridors and nurses running in the hallways. Gerald saw a young girl waiting near the entrance as he reached the emergency unit. She was very wet. Her hair stuck to her face because of how wet she was and she was looking scared A hospital worker was talking to her before Gerald came “What happened?” he asked the girl and the girl stood up immediately “My sister ”Gerald looked to see what was happening. A nurse brought a stretcher through the emergency room doors. A woman rested on the stretcher; her eyes were closed and there was blood around her forehead. The patient caught Gerald's attention immediately. The nurses were walking fast and the young girl went with them. “She fell down," she said. Gerald looked at her and asked .“Where?” she replied. “At home.” “Was she unconscious?” “Yes.” “For how long?” “I don't know. I was in the kitchen.”Gerald nodded. “We'll take care of her.” She said, “Please.” Gerald looked at her.“Will she be okay?” He didn't make promises he couldn't keep but he could see the fear in her eyes. “We'll do everything we can.” The emergency room doors closed behind them.The girl remained outside. Her name was Evelyn Mac-Allister. She was Alice's younger sister. She stood there with her hands pressed against each other, staring at the closed doors. She was still shaking. She had never liked hospitals.Tonight, she hated them. Inside, Gerald worked quietly.He checked Alice's breathing then her pulse and her pupils.“Blood pressure?” “Low, Doctor.” “Keep monitoring it.” “Yes, Doctor.”Gerald looked at the cut on her forehead.“Any other visible injuries?” “Bruising around the ankle.” “Get an X-ray.” The nurse nodded.Gerald leaned closer to the patient.“Miss?”No response. He then added. “Can you hear me?”Nothing.He checked her pulse again.It was fast. Outside, Evelyn walked back and forth; She checked her phone. No new messages. She looked at the emergency room doors again. Nothing. Then they opened and Gerald stepped out. Evelyn immediately ran toward him. “How is she?” Gerald removed his gloves.“She is stable.” Evelyn released a breath she didn't know she had been holding.“Thank God.” “She has a head injury and a badly injured ankle. We're still checking for anything else.” “Is she awake?” “Not yet.” Evelyn nodded. Her eyes became wet and Gerald noticed. “Don't panic.” “I can't help it.” She replied. “I understand.” Gerald added. Evelyn wiped her eyes. “I'm sorry.” “You don't have to apologize.” She looked at him and asked.“You're the doctor treating her?” He replied. “Yes.” “Thank you.” Gerald gave her a small nod. “What's your name?” he asked. “Evelyn.”she replied “And you're her sister?” “Yes.”she replied. Gerald looked at the file in his hand. “Alice Mac-Allister?” Evelyn nodded. “Yes.” He repeated the name silently. Alice. For some reason, he felt it suited her but he didn't know why, he hadn't even properly seen her face. He turned toward the emergency room.“We'll let you know when she wakes up.”Evelyn nodded. “Thank you, Doctor.” Gerald walked away. He took a few steps and stopped. He didn't know why. He glanced back but Evelyn was still standing there. He looked through the glass panel on the emergency room door. He could see the patient lying quietly on the bed. He couldn't see her face clearly from where he stood. Then he turned away. There was work to do. Hours went by then Alice opened her eyes. She first saw the white ceiling. She stuck a point in her head next. When she tried to move she felt a sharp pain in her body. She decided to stop. “Take it easy.”A voice called from the side of her. Alice slowly rotated her head. The doctor was sitting close to us. He was studying something on a tablet device. He looked up because her eyes started to open. “You're awake.” Alice looked at him. Alice did not recall meeting him in the past. “Where am I?” she asked. “Miller Heights Hospital,” the man said. She scanned the room. The room smelled fresh and was silent and cold. “How long?” she asked “You have been unconscious for many hours.” Alice couldn't remember anything after she remembered her house and her stairs and Evelyn. She frowned. “What happened?” “You fell.” “I fell?” “Yes.” Alice shut her eyes. She tried to remember specific moments. Something returned to her. The sound of footsteps. She opened her eyes once again. “Doctor?” “Yes?” “I…” Alice stopped. Gerald waited. Alice looked toward the entrance. “Where's my sister?” Gerald said she is outside. Gerald stood. “I'll get her.” He hurried to the door. “Doctor?” He turned around. Alice looked at him. Gerald looked at the girl for the first occasion. He paused briefly not because of her injuries, not because of the blood. Her eyes were the culprit. Her eyes were too bright for someone so exhausted to have. Then she smiled. It was a tiny smile. Almost shy. “Thank you,” she whispered. Gerald gave a sign of approval. “You're welcome.” He opened the door but before leaving, he looked at Alice and she was still watching. None of them said anything. Gerald then left and closed the door behind him. After some time, Evelyn entered. When she saw her sister she screamed “Alice!” She rushed to the bed. Alice smiled weakly. Evelyn hugged her carefully. “How are you”? Alice replied “I'm fine now “. Evelyn looked toward the door and said “Your doctor is nice.” “Is he?” she asked, “Yes.” Evelyn answered. Alice smiled faintly. “I don't even know his name.” “Gerald.” Alice repeated it. Something about the name made her smile again. Evelyn noticed it and raised an eyebrow. Alice looked away immediately. “Don't start.” “I didn't say anything.” “You were about to.” Evelyn smiled. “Maybe.” Alice laughed softly. For the first time that night, the room didn't feel frightening. Early the next morning Gerald entered Alice's room to perform his usual check-in. Gerald knocked on the door first because Alice was already awake. The loose hair behind her head showed some improvement. “Good morning.” Yes she did look up. “Good morning Doctor.” “How is your health status doing today?” She answered. “I am feeling pain in my head.” “It will get better. ”She studied him intently. “Is That Your Usual Serious Mode?” Gerald hesitated for a moment and then showed a big smile. “Usually.” Alice responded with a bright smile. He reviewed her medical file. “You scans are good.” He said. “This looks like good news.” “It is.” “When will I be permitted to leave?” Alice inquired. “This will not happen today.” Her head snapped down. Gerald recognized “You need to be under observation.” “Until when?” “More days at least one or two.” He answered harshly. Alice exhaled deeply. “I don't like hospitals.” “You're not the first one to say that to me.” She studied him more carefully. “Do you own this hospital facility?” Gerald lifted his eyes to look at her. “Why do you need to know?” “Evelyn told me.” He agreed with a nod. “I get it.” “So you are the one in charge?” The visitor smiled. “Something along those lines.”Alice studied him. “You don't look like the boss.” “And what does a boss look like?” “I don't know.” She smiled. “Older, maybe.” Gerald laughed softly. “That's unfortunate.” Alice laughed too. It was a simple moment, nothing dramatic, just two strangers talking but Gerald found himself enjoying it more than he expected. He closed her file. “I'll see you later.” “Gerald.” He looked at her. Alice smiled. “I think your name is better than Doctor.” For a second, Gerald didn't respond. Then he nodded. “Gerald, then.” He left the room. Alice watched the door close. She didn't know why she was smiling. By late afternoon, the rain had finally stopped, the city looked fresh. Gerald was walking through the hospital lobby when he received a call. He answered. “Yes?” “Doctor Miller?” “Yes.” he answered with a frown on his face “This is Anthony Marshall's office.” Gerald stopped. He recognized the name immediately. Anthony Marshall. A senior government official, a man Gerald had seen at public events more than once. Their paths had crossed before, but only briefly. “Go ahead.” “Mr. Marshall is at the hospital.” Gerald looked toward the entrance. A black government vehicle had just stopped outside. Anthony stepped out. Gerald straightened his shirt without thinking. Anthony walked into the lobby. Their eyes met. Anthony gave him a polite nod. Doctor Miller.” “Mr. Marshall.” Anthony extended his hand and Gerald shook it. “It's been a while.” “Yes.” Anthony looked around the hospital. “I came to see someone.” Gerald already knew who. “Alice Mac-Allister?” Anthony's expression changed slightly. “You know her?” “She is my patient.” Anthony nodded. “I understand.” Gerald gestured toward the elevator. “She is resting upstairs.” “Thank you.” Anthony paused. Then added, “I appreciate you taking care of her.” “It's my job.” Anthony smiled politely. “Of course.” Nothing more was said, no argument, no hostility, just two powerful men standing in a hospital lobby, speaking like professionals. But when Anthony walked toward the elevator, Gerald watched him for a moment. There was something in the man's eyes. Something he couldn't quite understand. Then Gerald turned away. He had no idea that the woman lying upstairs would soon become the reason those two men would stop being strangers. He had no idea that Alice's arrival at his hospital had quietly changed the direction of his life. And Alice herself had no idea that the accident she thought was simply a terrible mistake would eventually pull three lives into a storm none of them could easily escape. For now, however, the hospital was quiet. The rain was gone. And somewhere on the third floor, Alice Mac-Allister was waiting for Anthony Marshall to enter her room. She did not know what he had come to tell her. And Gerald did not know that, before long, he would have a reason to wish Anthony had never visited.