A Heart Healed

She had even neglected trimming her hair. The last time she had taken time off to do so was over a month ago and now the short black hairs were starting to look like she was attempting to grow an afro. Maybe her mind was just exaggerating it, but it definitely was feeling like she was growing a cushion on her scalp.

Her mother would be so proud. Look at her, embracing her natural hair much like she did. The problem with this was that she was nothing like her mother, Ida. When she was growing up with this hair on her head, she was often given a hard time because she went to a private school filled with children like that man. Easily irritable and self-entitled. Throw in a childlike Naomi who didn’t know how to keep her mouth shut when it came to situations that annoyed her, and it was hell for everybody involved.

That afternoon echoed through her mind again as she buried her face into her pillow. She didn’t want to be anywhere near him and yet…

The image of the man’s sleeping face came back. He probably felt like she did. Tired to the bone.

She knew what kind of job he had but not everything it entailed. What if he too had long hours with no breaks and way too many people and their problems to deal with?

Stop it, Naomi. You’re becoming attached again. Dr. Adamson’s voice chided in her head. He was right. There were too many conflicting thoughts in her head about this man and what kind of person he was at any given point in time.

Sure, he was hotter than any of the guys she had met, but his terrible temper rivaled her own. He both scared her and yet intrigued her. She both felt intimidated by his demeanor and yet worried about how he was doing, even as a medical professional. Why was she allowing herself to feel all these things for a man who she knew absolutely nothing about?

Any man could come and sit next to his comatose brother for days on end after they left the office, but what difference did that make?

Marc Hewitt was a mystery to her.

Naomi let out a heavy sigh and rolled over to her side, staring out over what little of the street she could see out of the window. The street lights blazed their orange hue over the empty street that showed itself in the corner. Most of the view was blocked off by the neighboring building, but it was all right. There were many different things that she could have been thinking about. Many different things that she should have been thinking about.

Her other patients, her finances for the month, herself.

However, no matter how hard she tried, her mind wasn’t able to focus on any of that. It seemed to choose to remain on the things she shouldn’t be thinking so hard on. On an endless loop, it remained on that man, his brother, and the burn they were starting to produce in her heart.

*****

When it came time to visit Ezra Hewitt’s room once again, she was surprised to see that his usual visitor wasn’t on his post. Instead, the young man was by himself for a change without any trace of the elder brother. All she could see was Ezra, lying elevated as if someone was here to see him at some point.

Ezra opened his eyes, looking at her before trying to crack a small smile to say hello.

“Good evening to you too.” She grinned at him before starting his checkup. The young man was calm throughout the entire procedure, besides a slight flinch when she touched the end of her stethoscope to his chest. He seemed to be improving a great deal to the point where he almost wasn’t wheezing when he breathed.

“Looking good, Ezra. Keep this up and you’ll be closer to talking normally again.”

Despite her saying this, he decided to try anyway. “Ma…” he rasped out, his voice sounding like he had been gargling rocks. Hell, probably felt like it too after not using his throat for so long.

“Marc? Are you looking for your brother? Did he not come today?”

Ezra blinked twice. So, he hadn’t been around for a change. It was odd considering his previous behavior. Or wait, maybe he meant that he wasn’t actually looking for the man. Which one?

“Okay, this system is terrible,” Naomi laughed. “One thing before I head home.” She pulled out one of her cards from the pocket of her coat. “This has my cell number. If that brother of yours shows up, just hold it where he can see, all right?”

“Or you could just give it to me yourself,” a voice from the door said, making her jump and clutch her hand against the fabric of her coat. Ezra let out a loud wheezing from the bed making his chest move, the amusement in his eyes for a second before he winced in pain, his chest heaving a little before settling to its familiar wheeze.

“Serves you right for trying to laugh at me,” she teased him before turning towards Marc, who was leaning against the door frame with his arms folded over his chest and a slight smile on his face. Did he really have to do that? Or was it because of all her internal arguing the previous night that she was feeling a little jumpy?

“I see you’re awake, Ez,” Marc said with relief before glancing at Naomi again. “Was there something you wanted to give me?”

“Right.” She held out her card in his direction. “In case you needed help and I wasn’t around.” He stepped forward towards her, the difference in their height making her feel shorter under his gaze, but it set her heart pounding furiously nonetheless. Marc reached out and took the small card from her before looking down at it then back at her.

“Very well. Thank you for your generosity, Dr. Bennett.”