My Everything

spending time with her. I’m curious what happened between her and Liam, but am not willing to entertain the idea that he’s sitting at home, drinking beer, while she takes care of their son.
    “He should feel better in about a half hour.” I rip his prescription from my script pad and hand it to her. “Fill this and make sure you finish the amoxicillin. He has an ear infection, but it will clear it up. You only need to give him the Motrin for today and if he has a fever.”
    “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome, Josie. Just call if you need anything.” I nod and leave the room, normal doctor procedure.
    I watch as she walks out of the office. My nurse comes up behind me and clears her throat.
    “Young single mom like that sure could use a nice respectable man to help take care of that baby.”
    “Single?” I ask making sure my ears heard her correctly.
    “Very single,” she says as she pats me on my shoulder. 
     
    “Honestly, I’m not sure. I’m in love with the idea that she represented. She has a son that I raised for six years and to wake-up and for them not to be there is painful. I miss him a lot. I miss being his dad and his friend, but I can’t be there for him right now.”
    “What happened?”
    I take the swing next her and move myself back and forth. “Her ex came back and it was like I didn’t exist. I couldn’t fight for her because she was so lost to him that I didn’t stand a chance. I tried, she tried, but it was just a matter of time before she went back to him and I couldn’t be there to watch that.”
     

Chapter 3
     
    Tonight I plan to kiss Aubrey. We’ve fallen into a routine, well as much as we can have here. Each night after dinner, we take a walk. Things have been platonic and I know that’s because of me. Her subtle touches are telling me everything I need to know, I’m just afraid to take that step. We won’t always be here and I only volunteered for one year. She lives here and plans to go to college. What if we start something only to have to end it too soon? Or what if it doesn’t work out between us? I’m not sure I want the awkwardness. I can’t live in fear though.
    When I walk into the clinic, Aubrey is helping an expectant mom. She looks at me with worried eyes and I know we’ll be in for a long day. She settles the mom in a room and comes back with her chart.
    “What’s her status?” I’m in doctor mode even though she’s been on my mind all day. I thought I’d get tired of seeing her, but it’s been weeks since our first dinner and I've welcomed the thought of seeing her every day whether it’s at work or after.
    “She’ll be ready in about an hour.”
    “You think so?” I ask, looking up from the file.
    “Yes, I’m betting dinner.”
    I extend my hand out to shake hers. “You’re on. I’m off to see our patient.”
    It doesn’t take long for me assess the soon-to-be mom. She’s young. She just turned fifteen. This is the part of the job I hate. I don’t mind taking care of sick babies and children, but when a young girl walks in with a protruding belly, anger boils inside of me. Most of these young girls are raped when they’re out in the field working for their families. On the rare occasion one will come in with her equally young husband and I can’t help but think about Noah in a few years and wonder if this could be him some day. I would hope not.
    I watch the clock and smile when active labor starts. Aubrey now owes me dinner. It’s been an hour and half. I walk out to get her and tap my watch. She rolls her eyes and follows me back to the room.
    Aubrey administers meds, but only enough to dull the pain. I need the girl awake and functioning enough to push her baby out. We are limited here with supplies and staff so the mother needs to do more than one would be required in a modern hospital. Aubrey holds her hand, something the baby’s dad or even this young girl’s parents should be doing, but not in this society.
    Aubrey tells her to push, but is met with resistance. This is when an additional set of hands would be helpful. Aubrey works to calm her while I carefully push the baby forward by adding pressure to her abdomen. She screams out in pain and it makes me want to kill the man that did this to her. For every beautiful thing this country offers there is equally something disgusting to tarnish my opinion.
    A local mid-wife comes in, unexpected, but definitely needed. She takes over for me so I can take care of