Promise Me by Heather Parsons (win 10 ebook reader .txt) 📕

said shyly. “I was just going to drop these off on your desk for you to look through. And if you have any questions my name is Dr. Tina Roberts. We'll be working on the same floor together, at least to start off.”
By passing his desk Tina walked over to where he stood and handed him the papers directly. Lifting her chin up to show that she did in fact have confidence and no matter what he looked like, he didn't intimidate her. But my God he was gorgeous, she thought while standing close to him.
Thomas took the papers without looking at them and tried to smile through his pain. Tina was beautiful in her own way, about five-ten he figured, light brown hair that was pulled up in a bun and green-gray eyes. But she was nothing compared to the way Amy looked. Nothing in this woman standing in front of him made his heart beat faster or made him want to close the gap between them.
“Dr. Thomas Ellicott,” he stuck his hand out in between them. The moment he looked down at the papers his tears fell.
“It was nice meeting you Thomas. I'll let myself out and see you later.” Tina spoke softly. She'd seen the tears, knew there was a story behind them but didn't ask. It would take time for him to get to know her and talk. And there would come a time, she hoped she could confide in him some of the things she's never told anyone either.
Taking a step back, she turned around without another word spoken and left his office. Last night she'd had both ups and downs and honestly didn't know how to take another doctor's emotional cries in front of her. Keeping her emotions bottled up inside was the only way to survive working where she did.
He didn't bother watching her leave, it didn't matter one way or another. Walking over to his desk, Thomas sat down, leaned back, raising his hands to his face and cried alone.
The phone sitting all alone on the desk rang, an annoying sound in itself. Pulling himself back up, Thomas picked it up and answered, “Dr. Ellicott”. His voice filled with grief.
“Thomas I have a situation here and I need some advice.” Caleb said in a rushed tone. He was sitting behind his desk, raking his fingers through his hair and wondering if the day could get worse. If the next time this happened they would all lose the fight.
“Caleb what could you possibly need my advice for? You've been a doctor longer than I have, if anything I should be the one calling you for advice.” He said leaning back in the chair and stretching his legs underneath the desk. Getting comfortable waiting for his smart comment back. All the while wiping tears from his eyes.
“I don't know that much about Amy and I wish I did but-”
“Please don't Caleb, I said I didn't want you calling me and telling me about her.” His voice shook before he had control of it as he sat straight up. I'm having enough problems on my own without you adding to them.

God everything reminded him of her.
“Anyway her condition is stable now but her heart monitor spikes every couple of hours then flat-lines only to start up again shortly after. This all happens before anyone can respond to the alarms. Honestly I've never seen anything like this before and I don't know if she'll make it long enough for the transplant.” Caleb had the print-outs sitting on his desk and was looking at them as he talked to Thomas.
“Have you let anyone go into her room and visit?” His mind started going over every possibilities, everything that could effect her and cause whatever it was to happen.
“Her mother hasn't shown up yet for visits and I won't let Ashley or her friend in to see her because of this.”
“Has anyone told her her mother is coming?” Thomas had a feeling this is what was setting off her heart.
“I haven't said a word to her but one of the nurses might have.”
“You need to gather all the nurses, everyone that goes into her room and tell them all not to mention anything about her mother.” Thomas raked his fingers through his hair and cursed under his breath. From what little Amy has said about her mother, they don't get along and any mention would be disastrous.
“There's something you're not telling me, isn't there? What is it?” Caleb asked harshly.
“Amy's relationship with her mother doesn't exist. And any mention of her will end badly. Just get everyone together before anyone else goes in her room and if it happens again, call me.”
“Okay, talk to you later I'm sure.” Caleb hung up in the process of standing and walked swiftly out of his office and down the hallway.
Quickly walking past Amy's room Caleb stopped mid stride when he heard an unfamiliar voice coming from inside. Opening the door he walked inside and saw an older woman sitting beside her bed, muttering words to Amy. “Excuse me, who are you?”
“Oh,” she stood up quickly, raising her hand to her mouth to cover it and then dropping it. “Miss. Sandra Miller, her mother. I came as quick as I could. At first I didn't believe it but I had to make sure. What happened to her? Why is she not waking up?”
“Miss. Miller would you be so kind as to-” The alarms sounded next to the bed and she was rushed out.
“Oh my God! No!” Sandra yelled. Tears were streaming down her cheeks while she watched her daughter die. Scrambling to get control of herself, Sandra ran to her daughter's bedside and slapped her in the face while screaming, “you can't leave me!”

♥`♥`♥

A couple hours later when Amy's vitals were once again stable, Caleb returned to his office and called Thomas. As much as he hated telling him to do things, he really needed him now.
“You've reached Dr. Thomas Ellicott. Leave a message and I'll return you're call as soon as possible, thank you.” Beep.

“Look Thomas I don't think what we discussed earlier is what wrong. Honestly I think she's figured out you're gone and she's giving up. And as her doctor, I'm going to do everything in my power to save her so I'm telling you you need to come back here, maybe visit every so often so she knows you're still around.” Caleb sighed and hung up. Hoping Thomas would get the message soon and show up here because if not there wasn't much more he could do for her.
After leaving Amy's room he'd told all the nurses that if something happened to page him immediately. Caleb didn't want to take the chance of leaving the hospital and have something happen so he hunkered down for the ride.
Seeing Amy laying on the hospital bed, fighting with everything she had left inside her caused his heart to constrict. He knew what Thomas believed he'd done was right but with everything that's happened since he'd left, it's hard to see what was right or what was wrong anymore.
Caleb sat behind his desk with his eyes closed asking for divine intervention or an answer from above telling him how to save her. One way or another he wouldn't give up.
By the time he was almost completely certain his phone would never ring, it did. Racing from the other side of his office, Caleb dove for it and answered, “Dr. Cutler,” with a grunt.
“Dr. Cutler this is Dr. Roberts from St. Christopher's Hospital.” Tina took a exasperated breath then continued, “okay here's the deal. I know Dr. Ellicott worked there with you but he works here now and I can't have you calling him telling him about patients he once had. He was fine until he got off the phone with you earlier then he just left. I'd appreciate it if you'd not relay messages to him about her. He's having a rough enough time about it without you adding to it.”
“So what are you saying, I can't call him?” Caleb said through gritted teeth.
“We've spoken about this and have both come to the same conclusion. So, please don't call here about a patient of yours.” She blew out her breath.
“Since you're the go-between person here, I'll tell you what. Tell Thomas to go to hell.” Caleb slammed the phone down and stomped out of his office.

♥`♥`♥

An out-of-body experience has to be the weirdest thing that's happened to Amy since this whole thing started. But through it she's learned a lot of things. One thing is that Thomas no longer works here, Caleb was now her doctor and finally if this didn't kill her she didn't know what would but Thomas no longer wanted her in his life. Period.
So the only thing left to do would be to simple push him out of her mind, make him disappear for sight and take control. Easier said than done, she thought. Because he was the one she hung on to when she needed an anchor to return. He was the reason she'd clung so hard to living. He was the only one that truly held her heart in his hands.
No more, she told herself, she couldn't rely on anyone except herself from now on. And if she didn't get control the next time her heart went crazy she wouldn't have the strength to come back. She'd never get the chance to breathe the fresh air, see the amazing sunrise in the morning or set in the evening, she'd never get her chance to have someone else love her the way she knows she can love another. Nothing can be worse than living without really living.
Gathering what little strength she had left from the last episode, she calmed herself, relaxed back inside her body and thought of happy things. Things that made her smile. Rainbows, butterflies, flowers, painting. Yes that's it, she'd think about her painting again. And maybe when she survived this she could paint again.
She smiled to herself and then cried one last time.
Caleb walked into Amy's room and saw fresh tears sliding down her cheeks. Brushing them away, he sat down beside her and watched her as she sleep. All the anger he'd had moments ago vanished as he watched tear after tear escape her closed eyes. She was crying, he knew this and he knew why but didn't say it out loud. There was no need too.