Only You

Chapter 23

The next day, I was back to work. I woke up with a slightly better mood seeing that I was crying and ended up finishing a bottle of wine then falling asleep. Standing in the hot shower, I massaged the lavander scrub onto my skin hoping to relieve the soreness. My body just felt as if I had run miles. 

20 minutes later, I was done with the shower and changed into a simpe pencil skirt and blouse and slipped on sensible heels for work. I grabbed a cup of instant coffee and headed out to work. Eveyrthing just reminded me of Mark and the things we used to do. He used to pick me up and we'd go for coffee. He'd drop me off at work.

Shaking those thoughts away, I forced myself to think of something else. What we had was long gone. He proved it yesterday night. Not minding the long walk to the hospital, I also thought about getting a new car since I sold off my other one before I left. 

Looked like I would be travelling a bit to the office of the organization I was volunteering for anyway. It was in Pensylvania. Deciding that I'll sort it out later, I was actually happy to see the hospital's building emmerging in front of me as I drew closer. Stepping in, I welcomed the smell of sanitized beds and floors.

"Dr.Sanchez! Great to  have you back!" the owner of the hospital greeted me. Which was shocking because I've only seen pictures of him and for him to greet me personally was trully something big.

"Sir, nice to meet you. I'm surprised you're here. It's a pleasure to meet you." I shook his hand firmly.

We entered my office and I led him to the sofa. "So, your appearence at the awards yesterday night had cause such a huge deal. We've been getting inquiries from other hospitals. They're wanting to hire you. Your good image has perked people's attention seeing that you're on the front of the New York Times." he handed me the paper and the first thing I saw was a huge blow up picture of Mark and I. 

We looked good together, but that's just probably me fantasizing. The headline said "Doctor stuns the country as she selflessly tackles poverty in Africa."

"Wow, I didn't even see this." I murmered.

"That's what I'm here to talk about. The board of members want to keep you here. Without a doubt your service here before this was valued and now we value it even more. We will do whatever it takes to keep you here. Higher salary, reimburstion for your transportation." that certainly got my attention.

He slid a piece of paper to me containing how much I would earn monthly. "$40,000" 

That amount certainly made me happy. Smiling at him "Sure this is perfect. I'll take you up on the offer about the reimbursation of my transportation as well."

"I'll have the papers ready for you to sign within the hour. It's truly great to have someone like you around here Dr.Sanchez." he stood up and shook my hand once again before leaving my office.

"Isn't it a good day already." I smiled at myself.

Seeing that I had no surgeries for the day, I was stuck in my offie doing paper work when there was a knock on my door.

"Come in." a nurse walked in holding a huge vase filled with blood red roses.

"These came for you Doctor." she set it on my table then left.

I was shocked because they looked so beautiful. There was no card so I assumed it was from the board of directors of the hospital. At the end of the day, I carried the vase filled with the 30 roses back home.

I decided to walk home like a retard instead of hailing a cab back. I guess I was just used to walking everywhere. The roses blocked my frontal view so I had to carry it by placing it on my hip. Obviously it was really uncomfortable. Just as I was about to hail a cab, a sleek Audi pulled up to the curb. The window moved down silently and Mark's face came into view.