Here's part two of the series and sequel to my B.M.O.C.  post.  Thanks to everyone who has been reading thus far and hopefully to new readers as well:

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“Dr. Morris, step aside.  Take the patient to OR1, Dr. Stinson”. barked the attending physician, Dr. Jones.   September stepped back as if she were in a fog.  She was dizzy, but made it to a stool before she lost control of her bearings.  One of the residents kneeled down in front of her.  “Are you feeling, ok?  What happened?”  Immediately, she snapped out of it “The man that they brought in from the crash….where is he?  Where did they take him?” she asked in a panic. “Calm down, September.  He’s stable, they are working on him right now.”  “Well, I’ve got to go see…..”  “Oh, no you don’t.  Dr. Jones will have your hide if you step into that OR in this condition.  It’s better if you just stay put.”

Try as she might, she couldn’t get that face out of her mind.  Yes, it had been ten years but it seemed that he had hardly aged a day.  Sure, his precious bloody face was more defined and his hair was closely cropped with no traces of that beautiful fro left, but it was most certainly him. 

“Just a second” she said as she rushed to catch the paramedics who brought him to the ER.  “Could you tell me what happened to the man that you just brought in?” 

“Well, doc, we received a call indicating that he had been struck while crossing at Barrett Parkway and Highway 41.  We determined that he sustained two broken legs and suffered internal bleeding, nothing life threatening but his spinal cord may have been compromised.  Classic case of hit and run”

“Was the driver apprehended?”

“No ma’am, not as far as we know.”

“C’mon, Bruce.  We’ve got another call.”

“Ok, thanks so much……”

How could this be happening?  She had to see him; to make sure that he’d be ok.  She ran to the observation room to watch as they began to work on him.  It was the longest five hours of her life.  She never moved from that room.  She wanted to be there regardless of the outcome.  It was only after she was certain the surgery was successful that she stepped out into the hallway where she noticed a young woman crying inconsolably. 

“Doctor!” she cried out as soon as she saw September through her incessant tears.  “Please tell me how he is doing?!” 

“Who is the patient, ma’am?” she asked in a very still voice so that she could calm the frantic woman and perhaps her own fragile nerves.

“Billy…..his name is Billy Walsh”  “I’m……..”

September gulped…..of course.  She was ashamed.  She was so busy making plans for their future; she never considered he already had one.  Why would she assume that he wouldn’t go on with his life, that he would wait….for her?  She really began to question her sanity.  Had she allowed an old school girl crush to keep her from seeing….from living in reality? 

“Yes, he just got out of surgery.  The surgeon will be with you shortly to talk with you.   Please, just wait right here.”

She couldn’t walk away fast enough.  She took deep breaths and wished that the ground would swallow her whole.  “How could I have wasted so much time living a fantasy life?” she thought as she reached the safe confines of the Doctor’s lounge.  She scrambled around her jacket pocket for loose change for the pay phone.  “Terry….can you meet me for lunch in the hospital cafeteria?”   “Yes, I know it’s short notice, but I would never ask if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.  One hour?  Ok, thanks.”  She hung up the phone and went to find her attending to see if she still had a job.

She pulled open the door and exited the lounge.  As she turned the corner, she saw Dr. Jones speaking to the young woman who had calmed down quite considerably.

 “Ah, yes.  Dr. Morris, this is Ms. Walsh.” 

“Hello.  I’m sorry to about what happened to your hus……”

“No, don’t be.  Dr. Jones has already explained that while he’s pretty banged up, he’s going to be fine.  I was so afraid of losing him; he means so much to me.  I’m very happy to finally meet you.  I had no idea…that is…until Dr. Jones mentioned that you knew Billy and when she told me your name…..wow.” she said as Dr. Jones excused herself and walked away.

September was as confused as a circus clown at a Mensa meeting.  “I’m sorry…..he talked about me….to you, I mean…...”

“Of course!  My brother had the biggest crush on you!  He never stopped talking about ‘the girl who got away’.  Oh, maybe I’m saying too much!” she offered wondering if she actually had.