Page 73 of Penalty to the Heart

Chapter 13

Roxanne

“How is he, Doctor?” I ask Lenny’s surgeon as we both peer through the window of his room, our patient fast asleep in his hospital bed.

“As well as can be expected,” she laments with a tired sigh. “Though we tried our very best, it pains me to say that the damage done to Mr. Walker’s knee was just too severe.”

“I was afraid of that,” I mutter in defeat. “So does this mean he won’t be able to play professionally anymore?”

“I’m afraid not even recreationally,” she explains, disheartened. “Not if he wants to ensure his quality of life.”

It’s even worse than I thought.

“Have you told him yet?”

She nods, a forlorn shadow crossing her face.

“Yes. I gave Mr. Walker the news earlier this morning when he woke up. Unfortunately, he didn’t take it well. He got so agitated that we had no choice but to sedate him. I doubt you’ll be able to talk much with him today. Maybe not even tomorrow.”

“I’ll swing by tomorrow anyway. I don’t want Lenny to go through this alone.”

Dr. McCarthy turns to me with a smile and says, “I must say, Dr. Seymour, I’m very impressed with your patient care. I’ve seen many psychiatrists and therapists walk through these halls in my residency here at General Mass, but very few have shown such a level of commitment to their patients as I’ve seen you do with Mr. Walker. I’m glad he found such a dependable shoulder to lean on. He will definitely need all the support you can give him.” She gives me a quick pat on the shoulder before walking away, leaving me alone to watch over my slumbering patient.

“Oh, Lenny. What am I going to do with you?” I whisper, disheartened.

Hockey is all he has.

At least that’s how he feels.

He was having such a hard time dealing with his recovery already.

And now that he knows he might never play again…

Let’s just say it doesn’t bode well for Lenny’s mental well-being if he had to be sedated after learning such lousy tidings.

I’m not sure playing card games with him will improve his mood either. What I am sure of is that it’s going to be a long road to recovery, both mentally and physically. I pray that he doesn’t let his melancholy get the better of him. But even if it does, even if his depression gets worse, then I’ll be right there with him, doing my best to help him through this hurdle any way I can.

Staring at Lenny sleeping all day won’t magically make him better, so I might as well return to the office and devise a realistic strategy that will actually benefit him.

As I stroll down the hospital corridor, my mind is consumed by thoughts of Lenny. So much so that I collide with a massive brick wall after taking a sharp turn at the end of the hall.

Only it’s not a wall.

It’s Caleb.

Déjà vu.

My bag drops to the floor on impact with a loud thud, the contents inside spilling out, scattering in every direction.

“We really have to stop meeting like this.” Caleb smiles from ear to ear as he falls to his haunches to help pack up my things.

“I… didn’t… think you remembered,” I stammer in complete astonishment at his recollection of our first serendipitous encounter, which left him with the tedious task of picking every last item off the floor and placing them back inside my bag.

“How could I forget?” He continues to smile, taking my hands in his to help me up.

“You never mentioned it before.”

“I’m mentioning it now. I never forget a beautiful face, Roxie. Especially yours.”

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