Boundless Love

Charlotte Thomas

Charlotte's POV...

"Charlie! What should I do with all these?" I look at the girl working the front desk, waving around a stack of papers that keep coming from the fax machine.

"Try to put them all in a binder for me so that I can look over them, a lot of information will be coming over and I need to go through them all before he gets here," I tell her.

She looks frazzled, but so does everyone here, including myself. I have roughly 3 hours to have everything ready before he gets here. The orthopedic specialist will be here in 20 minutes to discuss options, and I just finished speaking with the London spine surgeon. This is all too stressful and exciting at the same time.

I've been on facetime with my parents for the last twenty minutes, listening to them trying to convince me to fly home next weekend. "Mom, Dad, I really have to hang up now, there's a lot going on here", I tell them. "Charlotte, I think it would be in your best interest if you came down here to to meet the guy. He's a surgeon and well respected in the community," My dad says. "I don't need to marry a doctor." I've said this to them so many times, yet they continue to make me feel like I can't take care of myself and be successful on my own. They love me and wants best for me, but they don't exactly know what that is. Neither do I.

The truth is, my parents never knew what to do with me. I was considered a genius for my age, skipping two grade levels, and when I entered College, I was much younger than everyone else. I didn't have many friends because everyone thought of me as "socially awkward". I like studying and learning, nothing wrong with that. And because my face was always in a book or my time was spent volunteering at the soup kitchen or local hospitals, I didn't have time to date or party. No guy wanted to stick around long enough for me anyway. My focus has always been on my work. Now my parents think I'm getting older and should find a man who can take care of me... to them, that classifies as being rich, smart, and successful. They mean well, but I don't need all that.

"Your sister married a doctor and look how happy she is now," my mother chimes in. " I can't talk to you two about this right now, I have a very important person on his way in and I need to prepare." I try to hang up. "Okay, just give it some thought, we love you!"

I have four siblings and each are wealthy and happily married to someone my parents fully approve of.  My parents are always praising them and throwing their accomplishments in my face, and I always feel like I need to prove myself to them. Why can't they be happy for me? I've accomplished a lot in my short life, on my own, without needing a man's bank account. I know they love me and want what's best for me, but maybe I don't want to settle down with anyone just yet. My life is fine the way it is.

I suddenly snap out of my thoughts when a body brushes past me.

"I can't believe Levi Dawson is coming to our rehab center as a patient!" I hear Sarah, one of my aides say as she runs down the hall carrying sheets and towels.

It's really is hard to fathom, a movie star, no less, is in need of my help I start thinking to myself again. Famous or not, the poor guy doesn't deserve everything he's going to have to go through now, no one does. From what I've been told, he was put on a flight here right after his surgery. He probably has no idea what's going on, which makes everything more perplexed.

I'm starting to feel a little doubtful, probably just my nerves. Although, I don't know why I'm so nervous, I opened this center for people like him, like my youngest sister, so they can have every possibility of living an active happy life. I've spent all my time in this building, working with patients, perfecting this program. I sleep at my apartment, but otherwise, I'm rarely there. I have dismissed most relationships because of my commitment and my goals. My parents admire my work ethic, though still want other things for me. All that I want at the moment is right here. This is the place I feel most needed, most helpful. Helping my patients regain their independence is something I strive for.