The Forbidden Love of Aesop Sharp

Chapter 14 - Race Against Time

"Elisabeth, you shouldn't have come," Sharp finally uttered, his voice filled with concern as he gently pushed her away, his hands still resting on her shoulders.

"Why didn't you tell me you were here?" the woman reproached with a hint of displeasure.

"I had intended to visit you tomorrow night," Sharp quickly clarified, his smile returning.

"It's been two months since you last visited," she replied with a pout, "I couldn't resist when I heard you were in town."

I observed the scene with astonishment, my breathing irregular and my heart racing. The young woman couldn't have been more than 25 years old, nearly my age. Her behavior left me uneasy.

"How did you find out I was here?" he asked, concerned.

"I bumped into Arlette at the market this morning, and she filled me in on what you were working on," she explained with concern.

"You really shouldn't have come in your condition," he scolded gently, gesturing to her pregnant belly.

She dismissed his comment with a casual wave of her hand, saying, "It's alright. I know you'll take good care of us."

This last remark hit me hard, and I had to clutch the table for support, accidentally knocking a book to the floor in the process.

Seemingly recalling my presence, Sharp turned towards me. I gazed at him with a defeated expression, and he immediately noticed, furrowing his brows. He moved away from the young woman and approached me, extending his arm towards me.

"Katherine, allow me to introduce you to Elisabeth," he announced, turning back to her. "Elisabeth is my-"

"I have to go," I abruptly cut him off, almost shouting to drown out his words, my eyes welling up with tears that I refused to let fall in front of them.

As I headed for the door, Sharp grabbed my arm and positioned himself in front of me. "Katie, wait," he interjected.

"I have patients to take care of, Sharp," I reminded him, wrenching my arm free from his grasp. "Let me go," I nearly pleaded.

He released my arm, and I rushed out of the room, barely taking the time to retrieve my apron from a chair near the door. Once outside, I hurried through the corridors to find Patty Shepard's room, wiping away the tears streaming down my face.

How could he do this to me, and who was this woman? She appeared barely older than me. What did his speech about our age difference mean if he was involved with this Elisabeth? The pain was so intense that I had to pause for a moment outside the patient's door to catch my breath and regain my composure.

I couldn't afford to wallow; there were suffering patients who needed me, and I couldn't let my emotions dictate my actions. Taking a deep breath, I quickly tied my hair into a bun and entered the room, finding an elderly woman lying on the hospital bed, her eyes closed.

Trying not to make too much noise, I approached her to check if she was still breathing. I observed her chest rising several times and the involuntary movements of her eyeballs beneath her closed eyelids. I nodded and moved closer to her bedside table to fill the empty glass with water.

Suddenly, a hand on my shoulder made me jump, and I almost dropped the pitcher of water. "Oh, I'm sorry for startling you, miss," Mrs. Shepard said in a hoarse voice, offering me an apologetic glance as I turned to face her, attempting to smile to reassure her.

"It's nothing. How are you feeling?" I inquired, placing the back of my hand on her forehead. It was burning with fever. She shivered in her bed, despite the blankets, and tried to cover herself more.