False Hope

Chapter 10: Two Avoidances

Lily narrowed her eyes, shook her head. He liked her? How was she supposed to react to that? He was insane. The relationship between a doctor like him and an employee like her was supposed to be professional. This wasn't. There was no way in the world that she would've fallen for him.

"I don't get what you're saying," she said staggering back as he took a step forward. She wasn't about to let him touch her after what he had done.

He gave a low chuckle, "I like you Lily Gilbert. I tried avoiding it but I couldn't. Avoiding it just made me like you more."

But she didn't like him! That was the thing! The guy was insanely rude. The previous sentence that he had stated just made him sound like a creeper. And the chuckle! He was the definition of creeper. What if he had been watching her this whole time since he had moved here? She was on the verge of tears. She felt like she needed someone to hold her.

She took a step back, "Please, don't say anything else." Protectively she put out her arms as if pushing something away. "We... we need to keep this professional."

A baby cooed followed by a full out wail. Perfect! She loved babies, but this was the last thing she needed. Her head was pounding with adrenaline and her mind screamed at her to get out of the nursery, but he was blocking the doorway and she was afraid he would grab her and do some awful thing to her.

She wanted her mom. Tami, Lucinda, Daniel even. She just wanted someone there. Someone who knew her and someone who might help take away the pain that she was feeling in her heart and Dr. Parsons was not helping with that.

"Lily I'm--"

"You have no right to say my name," she said trying to make her voice sound as demanding as possible. "As far as you're concerned it's Ms. Gilbert and you will stay away from me." Midway in her sentence, her voice broke and by the end of it tears were rolling noiselessly down her cheeks.

Dr. Parsons looked scared, "I didn't mean to scare you like that Ms. Gilbert."

"Can I leave?" she asked as she brushed past him to go and find Lucinda or Tami. Daniel maybe.

"Yes," he said as she threw the door open where Lucinda was leaning her ear against it.

Lucinda looked from him to Lily before Lily threw herself into her arms and sobbed. She hated him. Dr. Parsons could make anyone loathe him and he had done exactly that to Lily. Lucinda rubbed her back with a hand and with the other she shut the door to the nursery.

Lucinda squeezed her tight, "Honey, I'm so sorry." She continued to hold her as Lily's tears soaked her shirt.

Great heaving sobs racked her body. Her head continued to scream and her heart pounded in genuine fear. As she gave way to her anguish she realized that she wasn't only crying because Dr. Parsons had frightened her. She was crying for the things inside that had been bottled up for too long. Crying for everything.

Everything was crashing down on her again. The reality of what had happened and what was happening was squeezing the air from her lungs and cruelly twisting her heart with a deep promise of hurt. It was if she'd been burned. Branded with the mark of pain. Hit by a freight train of indignation. She couldn't get over this. No words could describe what she was feeling.

A few minutes later, Lucinda asked her if she would like to leave. "I don't think the best thing for you is to stay here Honey. You need to go home and think about things."

Lily only sobbed harder. If she thought about anything, she'd only be reminded of what she was losing. The last thing she wanted to do was think about things as they were. Eventually, when the tears stopped and she was able to compose herself for a short period of time, she let go of Lucinda and wiped at her cheeks.