k is sitting on the edge of the exam table. It's a metal structure designed to hold a chunky gol
corner. "Move over there b
ir. I lay out my supplies on the table where he justttles into the seat. "Or stupid. Mo
MSing. Or maybe some asshole just barged into my workplace
it is,
very calm for a man with a bullet wound. Is
jaw and his dark stubble. It's enough to tell that he
vers down my spine. But just like
ust do your job, go home, a
f to myself. I start to reach
touched another person. Espec
uge. Either they trust you or they don't. If they t
r-cut. They're liars.
of this man, pro
." The man grabs my hand in his and steers my
but I will. I'm the doctor, so why
d you weren't a do
ffice, demanding I help him at gun
t that dissects every interaction with the opposite sex,
h this man; I want an ou
Time to focus all of my attention on mending up this man, whoeverthe wound in search of bullet fragments or bone pieces. I've done it before for more than a few an
d squirms a little bit under my nee
me the whole time with unblinking eyes. When I'm done, I wipe
arm, Doc?" he a
tch. You'll be back to work in no time, waving guns in inno
rm and try to beat back the part of me t
think. Way too long. Eighteen mo
But there's nothing quite like the real thing breat
you?" the man teases,
in a bandage? A lifetim
in himself. His fingers are huge, but there's a gracefulness in t
iting what I can remember
zed the whole speech in sixth grade and it's neve
I can't get past "...we are engaged in a great civ
tters of his shirt and then rips it free in one casual tug. "I
me that someone else must have shot him. I glance towards the door in fright
ing chased?
g. "Might still be, technically sp
hey could have followed you!" I
lbanians, I have to assume this is
of them, at least. Between that hood, the awkwardly angled lamp overhead, and my fervent desire
w about them, an
abilizing breath. "Nothing more than anyone else, I mean. The news says
ing would be worse
a tension I didn't re
lbanian. On a day lik
ours?" I ask as c
sually try to
shake my head.
I gues
jump back like he's a live wire. I think I see h
n long enough.
morning," I say, waving my hand
move. "Yo
an invitation. If you don't mind, I'd like
ve towards the door I give him.
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