ELEANOR
The receptionist waved over a male nurse-gesturing toward where we had sat-and he approached quickly, a polite but professional expression on his face. “Right this way, sir,” he said, his voice calm and steady.
Armando stood-adjusting his coat with a deliberate motion-and then he glanced at me. His look wasn’t harsh, but it carried a silent command. It was clear he expected me to walk ahead of him.
I stood slowly, feeling the weight of the awkwardness I’d been carrying since we arrived. Matteo-ever silent and watchful-followed closely behind as we began to walk. The nurse led the way-his strides steady and purposeful-and I found myself matching his pace, though my gaze kept drifting.
The further we moved away from the reception area, the more relieved I felt. The burning stares and muffled whispers of the queue had left an imprint on me, but at least now I could breathe without the judgment of strangers pressing down on me.
Armando had a way of making every public moment feel like a spectacle, and I was always dragged into it, whether I wanted to be or not.
We passed by rows of waiting patients-mothers cradling newborns, elderly men and women seated in wheelchairs, children playing quietly with toys while their parents filled out forms-and I couldn’t help but glance at them.
The sight of a man with crutches caught my eye, and for a moment, my chest tightened. His expression was blank, but the struggle etched into his features was hard to miss.
I turned my focus forward again, trying to shake off the thoughts threatening to overwhelm me. Armando’s presence behind me was a constant reminder to stay focused, to not let my emotions show too much because I didn’t need to give him another reason to remind me of how weak he thought I was.
The hallway stretched on, and I kept glancing to the sides as we passed different sections of the hospital. I wasn’t entirely sure why, but my eyes instinctively searched for familiar faces-anyone who might recognize me. More than that, I was hoping to see her. If I could just see her, maybe it would ease some of the tension building in my chest.
After what felt like an eternity, though it was probably just a few minutes, the nurse came to a stop. “Here we are sir,” he said, turning to Armando. “The doctor’s office.”
I looked up at the door in front of us. It was a plain white door with a silver handle, framed in golden-brown trim that gave it a polished appearance. It stood out against the neutral tones of the hallway and for some reason, the sight of it made my stomach twist.
Armando gave a slight nod to the nurse, a gesture that somehow seemed both dismissive and commanding at the same time.
“Wait here,” he told Matteo. Matteo didn’t argue, simply stepping aside and leaning casually against the wall as though he belonged there.
I glanced at Armando again, wondering if he’d say anything to me, but he didn’t. Instead, he placed a hand lightly on my back and gestured for me to move toward the door.
I hesitated for just a moment. “What are you waiting for?” he said, his tone even but laced with that edge of impatience I’d come to recognize all too well.
“Nothing,” I replied quickly, stepping forward.
The nurse knocked mildly on the door a few times before a voice from the other side called out, “Come in.” His tone was calm but firm, carrying through the quiet hallway.
The nurse then pushed the door open and gestured politely toward us, stepping aside to let us in. The moment of truth was here, and I still had no idea what to expect.
Armando walked in first and then I followed closely behind him, keeping my steps slow and measured. Matteo-as always-remained outside, standing by the door like a silent sentinel, his black leather jacket making him seem even more mysterious.
Inside, the room was clinical but not cold. The walls were a neutral white, and a few framed certificates and awards hung on them. The doctor was seated at his desk, speaking quietly with a woman who appeared to be finishing up her appointment. She nodded at whatever he was saying-clutching her bag tightly as she stood to leave-and didn’t spare us more than a glance before walking past me and out of the room.
Once she was gone, the doctor looked up and his face lit up in recognition. “Ah, Mr. Armando,” he said, standing up and gesturing to the chairs in front of his desk. “Welcome. Please, have a seat.”
Armando stepped forward, taking the chair closest to the doctor without hesitation. I hesitated for a moment before sitting down next to him, my hands folding nervously in my lap.
The doctor leaned back in his chair still smiling. “It’s been a while Mr Armando. If my memory serves me correctly, it’s been… what? A year and a half since I last saw you?”
Armando chuckled softly, the sound low and almost unsettling. “That sounds about right,” he said, leaning back slightly in his seat. “But it’s not every day I find myself needing help with a bullet wound.”
The doctor laughed, the sound too casual for the weight of what was being said. “Ah, yes, I remember those days. I’m surprised you still bother coming to me. A man as tough as you doesn’t need a doctor anymore. I’m sure you’ve gotten used to patching up yourself by now.”
Armando smirked as his gaze remained steady. “You’re not entirely wrong,” he said. “But every now and then, it’s nice to have a professional take a look. Bullets are just part of the routine after all.”
I sat there, silent but fuming inside. The ease with which they spoke about bullets, injuries, and danger made my stomach churn. This was a doctor, someone who was supposed to save lives, and yet here he was laughing along with Armando as though bullet wounds were nothing more than paper cuts.
The doctor leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. “It’s a dangerous routine Mr. Armando. But then again, danger seems to follow you like a shadow doesn’t it?”
Armando’s expression didn’t change. “Danger’s just another part of life,” he replied. “You either deal with it or let it consume you. I prefer the former.”
The doctor nodded thoughtfully, as though they were discussing something as mundane as the weather. “And this young lady?” he asked, his eyes flicking to me. “She’s part of that routine now?”
My throat tightened as the attention shifted to me. Before I could say anything, Armando spoke. “She’s with me,” he said simply, his tone dismissive but firm, as though that answered everything.
The doctor gave a small nod, his expression neutral. “Well, it’s good to see you keeping company,” he said lightly. “Even in your line of work, a little companionship doesn’t hurt.”
I would’ve wanted to say something to break the suffocating tension, but the words wouldn’t come. I felt like an outsider in a world I didn’t understand-a world where doctors laughed about bullet wounds and men like Armando carried danger with them like a second skin.
Armando leaned forward slightly, his tone shifting to something more serious. “Enough pleasantries,” he said. “Let’s get to the point.”
The doctor straightened, his demeanor becoming more professional. “Of course,” he said. “What can I do for you today?”
“She’s why I’m here.” Armando nodded slightly.
That caught me off guard and I shifted in my seat a bit, turning to look at him.
“Oh?” The doctor looked intrigued, leaning forward slightly. “And what’s the issue? She doesn’t look critical.” He gestured vaguely around the office, then turned back to Armando. “Why bring her here?”
“She needs a checkup,” Armando said simply, gesturing toward me with his hand.
I felt my stomach twist. My heart pounded as his words settled in. What had made him suddenly decide I needed to see a doctor? He had never shown concern for me before-never even cared if I was fine or not unless it had something to do with how I served his interests.
The doctor’s gaze shifted fully to me now, his expression softening. “Hello, young lady,” he said politely, offering me a small smile.
I nodded in response, too caught off guard to speak.
The doctor turned back to Armando, a smirk tugging at his lips. “I must have missed a lot in the past year and a half,” he said in a playful tone. “I didn’t know you had a fiancee.”
The word fiancee hit me like a slap. I sat frozen in my chair, completely horrified as my breath hitched.
I could feel my face heat up.
Armando didn’t even bother to correct him. He just sat there, smirking faintly and nodding as though the comment didn’t warrant a response.
His silence, that maddening smirk, he was doing it on purpose-letting the misunderstanding hang in the air to rattle me.
The doctor chuckled and leaned back again. “Well, congratulations, I suppose. You always did keep surprises up your sleeve.”
Armando ignored the remark entirely. “Can we get her a general checkup? Quickly.” His tone calm but firm, leaving no room for argument.
“Of course,” the doctor said, now straightening up. “But I think it would be best to have one of my female colleagues handle that.”
He then reached for his phone and made a quick call, speaking to someone on the other end. And after a brief exchange, he hung up and turned to me.
“You’ll go with Nurse Clara,” he said, his tone gentle. “She’ll take you to another doctor for the checkup.”
Armando glanced at me with his unreadable expression. “Go on,” he said, his voice even.
I hesitated but stood slowly and to my relief, Armando didn’t follow me out of the office. But Matteo, however, moved the moment I stepped into the hallway, falling into step behind me like a shadow.
The nurse led the way, walking briskly but with purpose. I tried to match her pace though my mind was reeling and Matteo’s quiet presence behind me only added to the tension.
As we walked, I couldn’t stop myself from glancing around. My eyes darted to every corner, every face, and then, suddenly, I saw her-or at least I thought I did.
In the distance, I caught a glimpse of a nurse who looked eerily familiar. My chest tightened as I strained to get a better look. Was it her? Was it my sister’s nurse?
Before I could confirm, the nurse escorting me stopped and gestured toward a door. “Here we are,” she said politely. “Right this way, ma’am.”
I turned back to look for the woman I thought I’d seen, but she was instantly gone. My heart sank as doubt crept in. Had I really seen her or was my mind playing tricks on me? I honestly couldn’t tell.
I stepped through the door-trying to push the thought aside, but even as the nurse introduced me to the doctor inside, my mind was still stuck on that fleeting glimpse. Reality and imagination blurred together, leaving me questioning everything.