Saving Grace

The sun was shining so brightly but Grace’s mood was the complete opposite. She was completely sad and disappointed. She hadn’t heard or seen from Joshua in the last three weeks. She thought he was probably busy but now it felt like it was on purpose. Joshua was avoiding her but why was he doing that? Grace began to regret opening her heart to him. She realized that she was too quick in falling in love with him. Different thought blasted into her beautiful brain. What if Joshua didn’t like her anymore? Or has his feelings for her dwindled? What hurt her the most was the fact that it was her birthday but she wasn’t happy or enthusiastic about it.

She shot a fake smile at the plump nurse who entered her room.

“Hello Mary. ” Grace greeted.

“And how are you doing?” Mary replied.

Over the past few weeks, she had bonded with Mary, the middle aged nurse who frequently visited her room on a regular basis. Mary was quite helpful as she understood Grace’s loneliness and she often joked about celebrities, trying to keep Grace happy.

“I really don’t know. ” Grace spoke honestly.

Mary sensed something was up and she sat on the bed immediately, she shot Grace a look, urging her to speak out her mind.

“I… really don’t… know…how…. to…. say it. “Grace confessed.

“Just say it, I won’t judge.” Mary reassured, placing a hand on Grace’s palm.

“I miss him.” Grace whispered.

“Who?” Mary cocked an eyebrow.

“Can you keep a secret?” Grace asked. Her lips trembled as she spoke. Could she really trust Mary?

“Well it’s kind of weird to say this but I don’t know how to say it so–” Grace began but was cut off immediately.

“It’s Dr Joshua, isn’t it?” Mary gave off a motherly smile.

Grace’s eyes popped wide open. She was utterly shocked. How on heart did she know?

“H–How did you know?” Grace stuttered.

“Well it was obvious actually. You have asked about him everyday from me and I can see how much you like him.” Mary replied.

“Oh.” Was all Grace could say.

“But it’s fine. I have seen him a couple of times, he’s always in the hospital. I could tell him that you need his attention.” Mary winked.

“No, it’s actually okay. You don’t have to.” Grace said.

“Are you sure?” Mary inquired.

“Yeah.” Grace insisted.

“I know you are busy with shifts but today is my birthday.” Grace forced a smile.

Mary covered her lips with her hands in amazement,”Wow, happy birthday. I had no clue.”

“I think I should tell him so he could–” Mary rambled.

“It’s not necessary.” Grace interrupted.

“Alright, have a lovely birthday. I know that you will be expecting your family so I’ll leave.” Mary replied.

And she left.

“Okay.” Grace shot her a fake smile. She had even forgotten about family. What was family? Did they even care if it was her birthday. She gulped on remembering her mother. Was she even a mother? Tears welled up in her eyes and she shut her eyes instantly, trying to reduce the flow but it wasn’t enough. Even her younger sister, Sarah had not visited her in the hospital for once. Grace shook her head, she didn’t have a family who loved her or stood by her in harsh and bad times.

A quiet noise from the door startled Grace and she wiped her tears instantly, she mumbled a prayer, hoping it would be Joshua but when the person walked into the room, she felt confused. Where had she met her?

Her brain clicked finally when she realized that it was Helen. She mentally slapped herself for forgetting such details.

“Hello, I’m Dr Helen.”

“I know.” Grace replied with a fake smile.

“I’m also Joshua’s best friend.” Helen continued.

“I know.” Grace repeated.

“And I’m guessing you must be Grace?” Helen cocked an eyebrow.

“Why are you pretending not to know me? If you didn’t know me, then why are you here?” Grace snapped, already tired of her lazy approach at conversing.

“Calm down, I’m just here to talk.”, Helen chuckled, lowering herself on a chair gallantly.

Her red painted lips irritated Grace and her exposed creamy cleavage looked disturbing and annoying. Couldn’t she just button up? Her black hair was attractive but Grace tore her gaze away from it.

“Talk? We barely know each other.” Grace admitted.

“I agree but I want to know you, Grace. ” Helen cooed.

“But I don’t want to know you.” Grace chided.

“I’m sure you want to know me. Well for a start, I know that you are a cripple.” Helen started off with a grin.

“What?” Grace was furious.

“And you’re also leeching on my best friend.” Helen spat finally.

“You have no freaking right to–” Grace began but was interrupted.

“You’re really low for a woman, because you are lonely doesn’t mean you should give your heart away so easily. You don’t deserve Joshua, he’s a good man. He has lost so much and you’ll only be an obstacle.” Helen continued.

Grace gulped and bit her lips. She swore internally, praying to be given the temporary ability to walk. She would have ripped Helen’s head off.

“And where do you fit in in all of this?” Grace croaked.

“Joshua loves me.” Helen smiled.

“He loves you as a friend.” Grace spat venomously.

“And how do you know that?” Helen sneered.

“He told me.” Grace laughed.

She watched as Helen’s eyes turned dark and her brows wrinkled in anger.

“Did he also tell you that we had sex?” Helen chuckled icily.

Blood drained out instantly of Grace’s face. She shook her head violently, refusing to believe what Helen said.

“You…are just trying to get to me and unfortunately it’s not working.” Grace stuttered, plastering a fragile smile on her face.

“Do I look like I’m joking? We had sex, I mean, we made love on his couch.” Helen laughed aloud.

“Get out!” Grace demanded.

“Did you know that Joshua was so good in bed?” Helen pressured further.

“Fuck off.” Grace spat.

“It’s not good for a patient to use a swear word. I heard it’s bad luck.” Helen persuaded.

“Please leave.” Grace begged, tears threatening to fall.

“You haven’t even heard anything yet. I’m just starting.” Helen winked.

“I am not going to repeat myself–”Grace was cut off by a wave from Helen’s hand.

“Watch me.” Helen ordered, she adjusted herself on the chair and opened her legs, her skirt expanding itself. A lacy pink panties exposed to Grace’s naked eye. Grace forced herself to watch Helen. Helen parted her panties and began to finger herself to Grace’s dismay and Grace tore her gaze instantly.

Helen moaned and Grace was utterly disgusted.

“Joshua made me feel this way, he was so good at it.” Helen said slowly, shutting her eyes in ecstasy.

“Please I need you to leave or else I’ll–”

“Or what? Joshua never fucked you, did he? He was just toying with you, darling. If he really did, he would have done it from the day he set his eyes on you.” Helen acknowledged.

Grace bit her lips again and she tasted blood.

“See this?” Helen rotated her neck and a hickey was plastered on her neck like a tattoo.

Grace bowed her head in shame.

“If you know what’s good for you, I think you better back off from Joshua. Who do you think he’s going to end up with anyways? A cripple? Or a sexy doctor who can walk? It’s just an advice, darling.” Helen mocked.

“Get out!” Grace yelled with all her might. The tears that she tried to hide now streamed down her cheeks like an endless river.

“Did you really think we were just best friends? Were you so dumb to realize that he was never yours in the first place? Focus on getting better and moving on with your life. Don’t drag an innocent doctor into it.” Helen continued.

Helen walked over to the side of Grace’s bed and Grace flinched instantly.

“He’s not yours and he would never be.” Helen deadpanned.

“You’re so certain of that.” Grace managed to reply.

“If he was, he would be here. Wouldn’t he?” Helen chuckled.

“Please leave.” Grace whispered.

“It was nice talking to you, do you need a tissue? You have tears staining your pretty face.” Helen mocked, reaching out to touch Grace’s face.

“No thank you.” Grace shook her head.

“I’m glad we could discuss like normal women.” Helen chuckled, patting Grace’s hand.

“You are welcome.” Grace replied sarcastically and watched Helen walk out dramatically, she noticed that Helen stamped her heels annoyingly and she chuckled bitterly.

“Have a great day.” Helen winked before bolting the door shut.

Grace tried to hold in it but the tears kept flowing. She knew that Helen wasn’t lying but she tried to persuade herself that Joshua didn’t have sex with Helen. But a growing curiosity in her head kept taunting her. Her birthdays were mostly bland but this was the worst birthday ever.