2 (Annora) Some days I feel like a robot. I get up, get dressed, then make breakfast for my daughter. Then I take her to school, drive to the where work, then the rest my day with sick kids. It is I have dreamed of I was thirteen. However, it is today that just make me feel…stuck. The smell of antiseptic clings to my green scrubs as exit operating room. I was asked to scrub in on an appendectomy for an eight-year-old girl. The girl and her family came into the late last night for help with pain. was swamped with so the little girl in pain for before a doctor could her. Now I want to do shower, change back to street clothes, and go home to grab some much-needed sleep. Instead, I head back to my to make a few calls. disappointed my mother that I am rescheduling for fifth time in a row. I am honestly surprised used it by now. Winters, you moment?” I glance over my shoulder as I am waiting for the elevator. A tall man have never before is walking towards me. the suit he is wearing the to his I can only guess that he is a lawyer. Something doesn’t sit well me. “What can I do you? Are you related to a patient mine?” I ask. Then forward press the button to call the elevator. there can talk in Without giving him an answer, I hop on the elevator as soon doors open. He behind me but waits for the doors to close before says anything further. Being alone with him in my skin but I know have other choice now. “My is Marcus Drumond I represent Kyle…” Before he can his sentence, hold my hand up to silence him. I pull phone out of my pocket, then hit button to call my attorney. Before hit the call button, he grabs hand to stop me. The action causes me to drop my phone. His eyes wide as hits floor and shatters. “Oh, my god, am so sorry. I just need you to listen to me. I buy you a new phone. ” good, Mr. Drumond, because I am only going to say this once. I who you are, but I will tell you what to tell your client. Call my attorney. are done here. ” When the doors I out of the elevator to walk to my office. follows me as I hurry my door. He is going on how instructed him to speak to me. I him until we my closed office door. “You have choices, Mr. The first one is to leave own and take my to your client. Or you can continue me of which prompt to call security to have you removed from the building. Your has been that any further communication needs to go through lawyers. Please mention this to him when you to him. ” I turn on my heels to door, then I close promptly in his face as he tries to follow inside. With swift strides, I walk to my desk to the phone. I call down to at the front to them lawyer’s name and description. Marshall, our security, answers the phone. assures he will escort Drumond off property with a warning not come back unless it is a emergency. I thank up make another call. This time lawyer, Lorelai Davon. When her secretary answers the phone, he informs me she is in meeting with new client. I tell him what happened, and he he call me when is free. I hang the then plop down into my chair. Being a doctor, you would think I would to dealing with lawyers. I have not that many encounters unhappy patients that would require lawyers to get involved. I have saved, for the better, children and their families than I lost. My children’s practice has only been up and running for year now. Two earlier than planned. Normally would be four of residency, but skipped the last two years when I was the to run their pediatrics department. I didn’t know after I accepted the position that my father had pulled some strings to me job. of me wanted to quit, but I stayed because little girl. My second patient, Chloe, came to the hospital a severe burn on leg. After examining I found evidence of abuse. Many healed fractures, which in cases wouldn’t be alarming for a child age, it was the nature of injuries. Chloe pulled at something in me. Something that only one other person in life has able to. I stayed at Mercy General her and the memory of the past. In all honesty, I stayed for myself, too. This has always my dream. Now that dream is being tainted by nightmare ex-husband. was a mistake from the moment I agreed to marry him. If I had known about his violent tendencies before we married, would have run. used love my life. I have amazing job, a beautiful home, a that makes me of her every day. there is in my life. My was an abusive asshole, I don’t miss being slapped, punched or any time I displeased him. He never loved me. Not the I needed to be loved. I need the love I had but lost ago. The wrong, the love was real. I miss that feeling. My phone ringing makes me look at the on the across from my desk. Thirty have passed since I sat down. I answer the phone hear Lorelai typing something into her computer. “Annora, I just got off the phone with lawyer. He profusely apologizes for Drumond at the hospital. Apparently, the eager man didn’t get that everything was to go through me first. Lorelai’s voice is calm as gets straight to the point. “Our finalized. What more can there be to discuss?” “Kyle is under the he gets the house. He to know when you will move out. ” was gift to me from my parents. is in my name only. It was also in the prenuptial agreement that we divorced, he have no claim to it. ” “You are not telling me anything new. It in his divorce papers, I assume he didn’t read. I told all of this to new attorney. It was kind of sad see he Pensky. I was getting used to that little shit. ” I laugh at accurate description of Albert Pensky. That man always me feel like I needed a scalding hot shower after being in the same with him. He was also for a man in fifties. He acts like an over entitled frat-boy still in college. Guess like finds like. Kyle hired him, after all. “So, did set straight? Will they be bothering me again at work?” lawyer had to the paperwork to confirm, which should have done before taking the case. he me back, he apologized again, then told me he dropped Kyle as a client. ” “Well, that is in our favor. Can you make sure on my end regarding house, car, Grace’s trust are out his “Already done. He has no legal of that since it was all set up before you got married. We plainly it in the prenuptial agreement signed. has no case to get access to any of that. ” “Thank for getting back to me, Lori. thank you for going above and beyond, as always. ” “It is my job, Annora. Besides, you are more a client me, and you know that. ” She a point. My pager off in my makes me end the call planned. Looking the number on it, I my and my spare then rush to the elevator to back to the emergency room. I put my card from phone into the spare cellphone as the elevator descended. I my mother to if she will pick Grace up from school, then tell her I will swing by my way home. get the expected trip from canceling lunch but agrees to my request. My mother passed the opportunity to spend time with granddaughter. What I didn’t expect to see when I arrived at my parents my brother Max walking of the house when I pulled up. Max in New York with his wife, who is either inside not with him on this trip. What brought to “Well, you are a sight for sore eyes. ” ask I out of the car. The look on his when he me is briefly happy. Then he glowers as he looks away. That isn’t a good sign for Max. means him. him to fly to California to see means that whatever is bothering him bad. “Hey, going Max?” I walk him as he stands rooted in place, staring at the ground. “Leita and I are divorced. ” is a statement never expected to hear him. He met when he was college. They throughout broke up then together. When they married, it was the happiest day their lives. Or so I thought. “What happened? I thought was with you two. Leita sounded so happy when I spoke her week. What the baby?” “If you two are to have that conversation, I suggest you come the neighbors don’t know our business. ” My voice calls from the open front door. forbids, will of our family drama! Max shakes his at me. “Can meet you at your house after you get Grace?” “Yes, can also take the spare room rather than stay in a hotel like I know planning on doing. ” He his head then rushed to car. I hear a sob, then few choice words as gets his rental car. My mind in whirl, trying out what happened to my strong, stoic older brother to him close to tears. Without waiting for my mother to me inside I walk to door. can hear laughter echo down the hallway. my mother’s scowl, I the kitchen, where I can hear talking to my father. voice makes me all the times throughout my childhood where he sat in the crossword puzzles on his rare days off. When me, I can tell that whatever Max had say wasn’t good. eyes look sad, but he smiles as Grace cracks a joke. I will just have wait until later tonight to get the truth of my brother. I catch look that my sends towards my mother’s back as she tea. love that shines through his eyes when looks at her is something I have only experienced myself once. It me back at daughter she lays down on the lets out a peal of laughter. Grace is the spitting image her father. Quinn Greyson. Every time I look into her eyes, I remember them in another face. of a man on the cusp of becoming soldier. That still creeps into my at night. That long summer haunts me to this day. time I look at my daughter, where he is right now. Is he safe? Is happy? Does he think the I think of him? With longing, for what could have been if things had gone differently. will say to if we meet again? Will I back into arms like no time has passed? Twelve years long time to someone. Twelve is a time to still that rush of when think of him. Love that would fade away as I older. It only got stronger time went on. I miss him so much hurts. I looking for him my contacts in the Army. ever came of inquiries. Maybe now is a good time to try him. If not for sake, but for the sake of the child we created us. The child took me surprise changed my for the better. She was conceived in love when nothing else the world mattered me and him. During a summer of exploration, budding romance, and the beginning of a love so pure and sweet that I have never able to forget it. could I him. Grace my forever link my one true love. The father that she has yet to meet because I don’t where he is now. The father I robbed her of. he think of if we ever meet Quinn, my love, where you? Please come back to me. I miss you. I never stopped loving you.