Page 60 of Seventeen Years Ago

“Aiza, are you okay?” Grandma asked, sounding panicked.

“Yes, I’m fine. Just stood up too fast. You know I haven’t been sleeping well.”Or eating right.

“That’s it. I’m calling Reesa,” Finn said.

“No. Please don’t. It’s only stress,” I said.

“No. It’s heartbreak. Do you know that Steven hasn’t called her since he left? Just a couple of text messages, that’s all. She can’t eat or sleep. It’s not like her at all,” Grandma said.

I might not be sick but I sure in heck wasn’t feeling any better now. “Grandma. Doctor O’Connor hasrealpatients to worry about. Let's not waste any more of his time.”

“It’s fine. Stress can lead to many medical problems. I don’t want that to happen to you, Aiza. Why don’t you come with me to my office? There’s something I would like to talk to you about. It will give your grandmother time to eat one of our fancy hospital meals.”

“Oh, that sounds nice. A change from Aiza’s cooking,” she replied.

Keep it up, grandma. I might just ask Finn to keep you overnight.

When we arrived in his office, he had me sit down. “Doctor...”

“Finn,” he said.

“Finn. There really is nothing wrong with me,” I said.

“I wouldn’t go that far, you're not physically sick. But I wanted to talk to you privately anyway.”

“About me or my grandmother?” I asked.

“Both.”

“Okay. What about my grandmother,” I asked.

“She seems to be in very good health. That is something you should be very proud of. I know from Reesa you have been caring for her for several years.”

“She did the same for me when I was eighteen,” I explained.

“I heard that too. You would be surprised by what I hear as a doctor. More than you would think one should know. I can’t share things with anyone, not even my wife, but I know a lot,” he said.

“Okay. What does this have to do with me and my grandmother?”

“You should go to him. He needs you. He doesn’t know it, but Steven needs you.”

“Is he sick?” I panicked.

“No. Not in the way one diagnoses sickness. But he’s hurting. I spoke to him the other day and he sounded like a man who is on the verge of giving up. Since I wasn’t speaking to him as a patient, then I’m not breaking any confidentiality. But I’m worried about him,” Finn stated.

That spoke volumes. I knew Finn would never say this unless it was true. “What can I do? I can’t go to him. I have work and my grandmother.”

“I can manage both for you,” he said.

“How? Lie to your wife that I'm sick?” I asked, regretting my sarcasm. Finn was trying to help, and I didn’t sound gracious. “Sorry.”

“I believe you need time off. No matter what you do, as a doctor, I recommend it.”

“Okay. I’ll take a week and stay home with grandma,” I replied.

“I mean a full break from it all. My second recommendation is that your grandmother stays here with us at the hospital.”

“I thought you said that nothing was wrong with her,” I questioned.

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