Transaction Worthy Love

I raced to the nurses desk to clock out, it was 7pm so our clinic finally stopped seeing patients. I took a long awaited breath and typed in my credentials as Dr. Linda Edwards curtsied past me. She was a middle aged white woman with short blonde hair and radiant baby blue eyes. “Any plans tonight Leah?” She asked me as she punched in her hours. “Other than leftovers and reruns? No. Naomi is with her dad this week. I have huge plans with my refrigerator and bedroom.” I chuckled and grabbed my hydro flask and lunch pail. I pulled a card out of its side pocket and slid it towards her. “That’s for Daren, we are all extremely proud of him here.” Daren was Linda’s oldest son set to graduate from Marine Corps boot camp this weekend. “I can’t wait to see his shaved head.” Dr Linda giggled and waved me away. “Go rest, the week Naomi is gone is going to fly by.” I smiled curtly at her and briskly walked to my car. The parking lot was relatively empty. Only my Honda Pilot and Linda’ s older Benz Parked out front. A black Chevy Tahoe with tinted windows parked at the very end facing our building. It wasn’t unusual to see random cars parked here. Especially when patients arrive in their own vehicles but leave by ambulance to the main hospital. I unlocked my car and climbed in. Blasting the ac, turning up the radio and cruising home. I arrived to my apartment and used my keycard to access the building. Being a single mother in LA I knew I wanted something on the safer side, even if it cost an arm and a leg I don’t really have. I ran up two flights of stairs and stood in front of apartment 307, I unlocked the door and quickly locked it behind me. I threw my keys on the entryway table, kicked off my Nikes and trotted to my bathroom. I stared at my appearance in the mirror. My curly hair tossed on my head in a messy bun, my green eyes matching the color of my scrubs appeared a little red with slight dark circles. I was worn out. I started the shower and was about to pull up my favorite playlist when I heard a faint knocking at my door. I turned the shower off to get a better chance at hearing it. Another knock quickly followed the last one. I walked to the door, thinking it was probably my neighbor Nadine, locked out her apartment again, needing somewhere to hang out until maintenance arrived. I unlocked and pulled open my door when I was met with man dressed in all black, hunched over leaning against my door frame. “I need your help.” I stared at this unfamiliar man. His olive skin was pale, he was gripping his side from under his hoodie, sweat beads were forming on his face. His neck tattoo barley visible from his black hoodie. Despite his disarray appearance he was extremely attractive. “Please.” He stammered. I stared at him, in shock. “Who are you?” I asked. “How did you get in here.” “I don’t have the f*****g time for this Leah.” He growled. His raspy voice ringing in my ears. “Leon, Leon told me about you.” Leon. My heart skipped a beat at the mention of the name. How? Leon is dead I thought. “How did Leon mention me? Leon is dead.” I asked him. Staring in shock and disbelief at the mention of my late brothers name. “Can you help me or not?” The strange man asked before he nearly toppled over. Catching himself against the wall outside my apartment. Sensing urgency I stepped aside and let him into my home. “What’s the matter?” He turned and looked into my eyes. His brown ones light with worry. “I’ve been shot.” I grab his arm and assist him to my bathroom. I urged for him to show me his wound, he lifts his hoodie and to reveal his heavily tattooed and toned abdomen dripping with blood and a small bullet wound on the right side. I grab a safety kit from beneath my sink along with the bottle of Tito’s I hid amongst the towels, motioning for him to sit on the toilet seat. Pulling my iPhone out, turning on the flashlight I hand it to him. I take a giant sip of the Tito’s then use it so sterilize the tweezers. Handing the bottle to the strange man bleeding out in my bathroom. He takes it and chugs it. Good, he is going to need it. I get to work fishing out the bullet, he bites his lip and let’s out raspy moans as I do so. Surprisingly he stays very still. Grasping the bullet between the tweezers I pull it out and clank it on the sink. “I’m sorry I have to do this.” I take gauze and cover it in alcohol and clean the wound so I can see to properly stitch him up. I take the needle and thread from the kit and intricately sew his wound shut. Once it’s done I pour the alcohol over the wound. He grimaced in pain, squeezing both his eyes shut and forcefully bites his lip. I put a couple patches over the wound. I fish around my medicine cabinet for an antibiotic. I found penicillin leftover from my daughters middle ear infection. I tossed him the bottle and he looked at me with confusion. “I’m no professional, and I just garnished your wound in my bathroom. Please take those to hopefully ward off any infection.” He popped a pill in his mouth before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a stack of 100 dollar bills wrapped neatly with a rubber band. “I appreciate your help Leah.” He tossed the band on my counter before walking towards the door to leave. “Wait.” He turned to meet my gaze. His face losing the paleness and gaining some color. “Hmmm?” “Y.. you..never told me who you are.” I stammered. “It doesn’t matter.” He chuckled. “Thank you for helping me. Ya know, Leon was right.” He continued for the door. I ran past him and blocked him from leaving. “Please. Please. How did you know my.. my.. my brother?” And that’s when I lost it. Tears streamed down my face as I stood there hoping he’d give me some answers.