THE HUSTLERS

Episode 7: Alexander

Willow Creek’s small rural hospital was a modest building on the edge of town — a single-story facility with a red-brick exterior and a simple emergency entrance. It served the local community, handling everything from farm accidents to minor crashes in this quiet part of Ohio. Alexander pulled up right in front of the ER doors and helped Jane inside. A nurse at the desk took one look at her and waved them through quickly.

They placed Jane in a small exam room with white walls, a narrow bed, and basic medical equipment. The lights were bright, and the smell of antiseptic filled the air. A doctor in a white coat came in soon after — an older woman with kind eyes who worked in this rural setting every day.

“Tell me what happened,” the doctor said calmly as she began checking Jane’s vital signs. Blood pressure, heart rate, temperature — all noted down carefully.

Alexander stood nearby, watching with worried eyes. “I hit her with my car while she was crossing. It wasn’t fast, but she fell hard. She says she’s exhausted and hasn’t eaten.”

The doctor nodded and turned to Jane. “Any pain in your head, neck, or back? Can you move everything?”

Jane described the aches — her left hip and shoulder throbbed the most, with deep bruises spreading under her skin. Her elbows and palms had fresh scrapes mixed with yesterday’s injuries. No sharp pains in her chest or stomach, just general soreness and dizziness from hunger and shock. The doctor examined her thoroughly, pressing gently on the bruised areas, checking for swelling or breaks. She ordered a quick X-ray of the hip and shoulder just to be safe, and some basic blood work to check for dehydration or low blood sugar.

While they waited for the results, a nurse brought Jane a small cup of juice and a sandwich from the hospital cafeteria. “Eat this slowly,” the nurse said with a smile. “It will help with the exhaustion.”

Jane took small bites, the food tasting better than anything she had eaten in days. Alexander sat in a chair beside the bed, his handsome face still filled with guilt. He looked like a god — tall, with broad shoulders, clear skin, and eyes that showed real care. In the bright hospital lights, he seemed even more striking against the plain rural setting. “I’m really sorry,” he repeated softly. “If there’s anything I can do — pay for the bills, help with your work — just tell me.”

The X-rays came back clear. No broken bones, no fractures. The doctor returned with a gentle smile. “Good news — no major injuries. Just some significant bruises on your hip, shoulder, and side. There’s mild swelling and road rash on your elbows and palms. You’re exhausted and likely dehydrated from not eating and all the physical work. We’ll give you some pain relief, clean the scrapes, and wrap the bruises. Rest, eat well, and take it easy for a few days. Come back if the pain gets worse or you feel dizzy.”

The nurse cleaned Jane’s scrapes with antiseptic, applied ointment, and wrapped her elbows lightly. Pain medicine was given through a pill, and an ice pack was placed on the worst bruise. Jane felt the relief slowly spread through her body. The young handsome man — Alexander — stayed the whole time, making sure she was comfortable. He even spoke quietly with the hospital staff about covering any costs, his voice calm and responsible.

As they prepared to leave, Jane sat up slowly on the bed, her body still sore but no longer in sharp pain. The bruises would turn darker over the next days, a reminder of the accident. She looked at Alexander, amazed that a stranger who looked so perfect had rushed her here so quickly and stayed by her side. In her lonely life, such kindness felt almost unreal.

The doctor gave final instructions: rest, fluids, light meals, and avoid heavy work for at least two days. Jane nodded, clutching her old canvas bag as Alexander helped her stand. The hospital visit had been straightforward — checks, scans, treatment for the bruises and exhaustion — nothing dramatic, just the careful care of a small-town rural facility looking after one of its own.

Outside, the afternoon sun was lower. Alexander walked her carefully to his car again. “Let me drive you home,” he offered kindly. “It’s the least I can do after this.”

Jane felt the bruises throbbing with each step, her exhaustion still deep even after the small meal. The accident had shaken her, adding to the weight of her dilemma with Madam Cynthia. But for now, she was safe, treated, and heading back to her almost collapsing apartment with new scrapes and bruises on top of everything else.