C2 Chapter 2

Joshua closely observed the woman on the hospital bed whose palm was cupping his cheek that were now deeply flushed at her words. Locks of chestnut-brown hair curtained her oval face, she had alluring, galaxy-blue eyes and it enhanced hypnotic quality to them. They were orbit round. A pair of arched eyebrows looked down on sweeping eyelashes. Her delicate ears framed a button nose. Her megawatt smile seemed fixed with fluorescent, archangel-white teeth that sent jolts of electric current down his spine. She had puffy lips, they were kiss-inspiring.

Snapping out of his temporary daze, Joshua smiled and removed her right hand slowly from his cheek which were now filled with warmth from her touch.

"I am a doctor not an angel but you can call me that too, I really don't mind," He joked.

Grace blinked, clearing her throat repeatedly and gazed at the ceiling, her blush burned through her cheeks and her face felt like a hot oven. She suddenly felt awkward as she attempted to hide her rosey cheeks behind her skinny fingers.

"Anyways what's your name? Do you know where you are? Can you tell today's date?" Joshua asked.

"Go easy with the questions, I just woke up," Grace rolled her eyes, replying with a smug look. She wondered if he treated all his patients exactly like this.

"Can you please tell me your name?" Joshua tried again after a sigh.

"Well, my name is none of your business," Grace said, laughing softly at the look on Joshua's face.

Joshua rubbed his hands on his forehead, he desperately wished he could squeeze her pouty lips till she talked sense. He was only here to check on the patient that sparked conversations among his colleagues, the patient he was assigned to.

A smirk grew on his face as he looked back at her. "Would you like to borrow my name?" Joshua teased, leaning on the side rails of the bed.

"It's Grace....Grace Waters." Grace confessed with a bright smile.

"Nice name befitting for a pretty woman," Joshua complemented, touching the sides of his nose. He didn't mean to be flirty, it was his own way of making his patients relax. He brought out a scorecard from his coat breast pocket and began scribbling.

"Age?" He asked.

"27," Grace replied.

"You have been out for two weeks since your surgery." He informed her.

"Two weeks?" Grace whispered, “I've been out for two weeks?"

"Yes." Joshua said answered. She tore her gaze from him, looking at a corner in the room, her eyes opened wide, a panicked expression growing on her face.

Grace's face changed on remembering something, she turned back to Joshua and asked, "Why can't I move my legs? I tried to move them but they didn't budge."

"Well, I was hoping you would ask that question. You had an accident and your spinal cord was damaged which affected your legs majorly, that's probably why you can't feel anything," Joshua replied, chewing on his lower lip. Relaying bad news to his patient was something he always found hard.

"So I am never going to walk?" She asked, each word coming from her lips slowly. "I am going to be bedridden forever," Grace stated, salty tears arose in her eyes, she blinked causing them to roll down her face.

Joshua found it hard to answer her question as he scratched the back of his neck. He reached for a plastic chair, drew it closer to the hospital bed and sat on it. He took her hand in his and rubbed comforting circles on her palm.

"Don't talk like that, there could be a miracle," He soothed.

Grace shook her head and laughed with no humor, "Everyone knows that miracles don't happen. My life is completely useless. Why the hell did those surgeons save me? Death is so much better."

"Don't say that, you have your life. “Joshua looked her in the eyes. "That's not something to discount. You are awake and healthy. Appreciate that and the rest is just an inconvenience."

"Is that supposed to be comforting because you are really doing a bad job at it. You have your legs, you can move around. Maybe you don't understand, my legs were the reason for my persistence in life and now they feel like shackles that are going to draw me backward," Grace spat, her shoulders trembling.

Joshua grimaced. He couldn't find a direct answer to her words. The pain evident in her tone shook him emotionally. He drummed his fingers against his cheek, searching for an ideal statement to say.

"Can I be your opthalmologist? cause I can't gazing into your eyes," Joshua cheekily said, a subtle dimple gracing his left cheek. He wished his words will fill out its purpose, and calm her down a bit.

Grace shifted her face backward as it pressed closer into her neck. She was shocked and amused at his playful pickup line. He looked mature but the words that flew from his lips were flirty and it sent tingles of sensation down in her belly.

"What... are....you... doing?" She asked, her voice low. "A-Are you trying to flirt with me. Isn't that against your work ethics?" Grace stuttered.

"Don't you want me to flirt with you? You look like my type. Can I seduce you as well?" He winked with a smile dancing on his thin pink lips, his eyes playful and mischievous.

"Please stop. You are creeping me out." Grace begged with big pleading eyes. He looked like an angel earlier but now he sounded like a seductive devil to her. Joshua tilted his head and his pink lips turned pouty as he advanced towards her dramatically, his eyes closed and begging for a kiss.

Heat rose from Grace's stomach to her chest, her cheeks turning a pinkish hue. His lips were getting closer and closer and her heart decided to skip a beat. She shut her eyes and parted her lips stupidly awaiting his lips but warm air fanned her face instead. She opened her eyes to see a ridiculous look on his face.

"Are you really desperate for my lips?" Joshua chuckled, arranging the ballpoint pen in his coat pocket.

"Nope!" Grace shook her head violently, almost yelling. She wanted to punch the stupid doctor in the face for messing with her, but she couldn't because she was the one that stupidly followed in the action.

Joshua smiled at her as a vibration buzzed in his pocket notifying him of his commitments. He peeked at it and noticed it was a text from Helen, a doctor and his best friend. She had sent him a text saying that his attention was needed in the emergency unit.

"I have to go." He stood up and looked at the door before bringing his eyes back at her.

"Go?" Grace asked, an eyebrow raised in confusion.

"I am a doctor, remember? I'll let the nurses know that you are awake. Just press the buzzer over there if you need me, I'll come right up," Joshua stated with a shrug as he walked over to the door.

Grace nodded with a small smile.

"And I almost forgot, My name is Dr Joshua Rogers, but just call me Joshua." He continued, patting the knob before slamming the door shut.

Joshua dragged his feet as he headed to where he was supposed to be with regret colouring his mood. He had given her his name. He'd told her to ask for him if she needed anything. What a stupid thing to do. He was going to be busy all day over trivial things. Why did he do that?

He wanted to believe that regret was due to him giving his assurance and comfort but deep down he knew that it was because he had to leave her. He knew the insecurities she was feeling and how much she needed to know that she wasn't alone. He could fix the physical pains but not the emotional ones. He had no right to be the man who held her and helped her through the fears she was facing. She would have to find someone's else to take up that role but the problem was that he didn't want anyone else doing that for her, and that scared him. He doesn't understand why he felt that way about someone he just met. He tapped the sides of his face repeatedly, why was he still worried about her?

Just another patient, he reaffirmed. He could handle that, he was a professional. He just couldn't understand why she was still invading his thoughts. He just needed to screw his head back on before he screwed everything up.

He knew he was in trouble. He was in big trouble!