Page 33 of Healed Heart
“Because you’re Angie,” she says.“You always try to shoulder everyone’s problems.”
I look at her.She’s right, but how would Tabitha know that?She and I have been lab partners for all of two weeks.
“How do you know me so well already?”I ask.
Tabitha shrugs, a small grin playing on her lips.“I’m just observant.And a bit intuitive.Combination of the two.It’s part of being a good scientist, isn’t it?”
“I suppose,” I reply, my thoughts still racing.
“Look, Angie,” she continues, her voice taking a more serious tone.“I know you want to go into psychiatry and help people.And that’s admirable, really.But you can’t save everyone.You can’t fix everything.”
I swallow, my eyes stinging with unshed tears.
The only person I really want to save right now is Jason.
“Let’s go to the hospital,” I say finally.“Ralph might be a pain in the ass, but he’s still our classmate.”
The hospital is only a block away from the medical school, since the school is technically part of the whole complex.
As soon as we reach the hospital, a nurse directs us to Ralph’s room.We peek inside the room and see Eli watching over an unconscious Ralph.Eli doesn’t notice us at first, but when he does, he leaps up from his chair, a look of relief washing over his face.
“Angie, Tabitha… I’m glad you’re here,” he says, pulling us into the room.“The police were here asking questions earlier.I didn’t know what to tell them.”
“What did they ask?”I glance at Ralph on the hospital bed.
“They wanted to know if he had any enemies or if anyone would want to harm him.”
“And what did you tell them?”Tabitha asks.
He shrugs.“I told them that Ralph was a bit of a jerk sometimes but generally harmless.I don’t think he pissed anybody off enough to get this kind of beating.”
I share a glance with Tabitha before turning back to Eli.“That’s probably the best answer you could have given.”
Eli runs a hand through his disheveled hair.“He’s going to be okay, right?”
“Let’s hope so.”I take a seat next to Ralph’s bed.
He’s lying motionless in the stark white hospital bed, his face a swollen mess of bruises and dried blood.One eye is sealed shut, the other barely open beneath a purpling lid.His chest rises shallowly.
We sit in silence for a while.The only sound is the soft chirp of the heart monitor and the occasional shuffle of a nurse passing by outside the room.
I jerk when Ralph stirs.His eyelids flutter open to reveal bloodshot eyes.He looks around dazedly before his gaze lands on me.
His eyes widen.“You,” he says.
“Hey, Ralph,” I say.
He narrows his eyes as much as his swelling allows.“Your boyfriend is going to rot in hell for this.”
ChapterTwelve
Jason
Dr.Carlos Engel’s office is nothing like I expected.I thought psychiatrists’ offices were supposed to be stuffy, filled with leatherbound books and old-fashioned furniture.But this place is different.It’s modern, minimalistic even, with a sleek glass desk, white leather chairs, and walls adorned with abstract paintings.On the desk sits a small Buddha statue and a bonsai tree.Interesting.
Dr.Engel greets me with a warm smile and firm handshake when I enter.“Dr.Lansing, welcome.Take a seat.”He gestures toward one of the chairs opposite his desk.
“Thanks for seeing me today.”I sink into the soft leather.
