The Strength to Start Over

Early the next morning, I went to the hospital and submitted my resignation. The director, Ted Johnson, read my letter with clear regret and tried several times to talk me out of it.

I stood firm. I only said that I wanted some time off.

I had just finished packing my things when the clinic door burst open.

Amanda rushed in while half supporting Donovan. Worry tightened her face. "Ced, good. You're here. Hurry and take a look at Don. He says his chest feels tight. Something feels wrong with his heart."

I frowned and started to explain that I had already resigned.

Donovan slumped into a chair and cut me off with a pained expression, "Cedric, I've lived abroad too long. I don't trust the skill level of other doctors here. Manda said you're the best doctor in this hospital. I booked your consultation. Hurry and check me. My heart really hurts."

In my previous life, Donovan had pulled the same stunt. He had faked an illness and insisted that I prescribe something.

I had followed the symptoms he described and had given him a painkiller. That afternoon, he had shown up in the ER and claimed the medication caused complications. I had lost my job because of it.

Now I stayed where I was.

"You can go to the ER," I said. "I'm not qualified to practice here anymore. I've resigned—"

"Cedric!" Amanda snapped and cut me off. "Can you stop being so petty? Don is in this much pain and you're still putting on airs. Where are your medical ethics? Did a dog eat them?"

The shouting drew people into the hallway, and a small crowd gathered.

The hospital director hurried over when he heard the commotion. He took one look at the scene and sighed. Then he pulled me aside and lowered his voice. "Cedric, you did submit your resignation, but the paperwork isn't finished yet. And this is a friend your family brought here. If this turns into a scene, it won't help your reputation. Just treat it as doing someone a favor. Take a look at him."

A cold laugh rose in my chest.

Fine. He wanted an exam.

"Come in," I said flatly.

I turned and walked back into the clinic.

Donovan followed.

I picked up my stethoscope and leaned closer.

Donovan casually tugged open his collar. His neck, which had been half hidden before, came fully into view. Fresh kiss marks covered it. They were dense and dark, worse than what I had seen last night.

He met my eyes and spoke with lazy pride. "Cedric, Manda went a little crazy last night. She kept dragging me around half the night. Almost broke these old bones.

"She said you're too stiff in bed. Said these past years felt like living with a priest. Things got a little loud. We didn't keep you awake, did we?"

My hand paused on the stethoscope. I already knew what kind of person Amanda was. Even so, something pricked my chest like a needle.

It was really annoying.

"Is that so?" I said, my voice calm with a trace of mockery. "Then be more careful next time. Only men who are all show and no substance need to prove themselves that way."

Donovan's face froze, and his expression darkened.

I finished the examination in silence. His heartbeat was strong and his breathing steady. Aside from the bruised love bites, the man was healthy enough to step into a boxing ring.

"No major problem," I said. "Just a little too much indulgence."

I printed a prescription and handed it to him. "Pick it up at the pharmacy."

The paper listed nothing more than a bottle of ordinary vitamin B.

Donovan took the prescription without even glancing at it. He stepped out of the clinic and said to Amanda, "Manda, Cedric really is skilled. I already feel much better after that checkup."

Amanda finally relaxed. She patted his shoulder, then set a box on my desk. "Ced, Don brought you a gift from overseas. He wanted to thank you."

It was a box of imported macadamia nuts.

Donovan stood beside her and adjusted his collar. He looked at me with bored indifference.

Amanda turned back to him. "All right, all done. Let's go. I'll take you to that Sayorese place you love."

I stared at the box of nuts on my desk.

The irony was almost funny. We had dated for six years. We had been married for three.

Amanda still did not know that I was severely allergic to nuts. Yet she remembered perfectly that Donovan, who had lived overseas for five years, loved Sayorese food.