Doc Martin belongs to Buffalo Pictures. I do not own anything!
I hope this story is a bit better to previous ones. I do apologise if it is not.
It might even prove that I did get a B in English!
Chapter One: Loneliness
Martin collected the second lot of patient notes not long after complaining to Pauline that people with paper cuts should not be allowed an appointment.
"Mrs Timmons!" he shouted from his desk.
Martin waited until the middle-aged woman came slowly strolling in and placed herself carefully on the chair opposite.
"When you are quite ready," he said angrily
"Oh well, you see I have been having some trouble with my right eye" Mrs Timmons explained, "Its been red and swollen for a few days, its alright now"
"So, you decided until your eye was adequate before consulting with me"
"I did want to bother you," she said innocently.
"Well, you wouldn't have bothered me if you saw me earlier, you are now!" he bellowed and felt burning on his cheeks.
He rose from his desk and walked round to sit in front of Mrs Timmons.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm examining you"
Martin looked professionally into her eye and could see that there was nothing wrong with it.
"For goodness sake, there doesn't seem to be any inflammation of any tissue, nor does it seem infected in any way. Next time see me when you are actually ill!" he moaned,
"Then why was it red?" she asked.
"I don't know, did you go swimming or have Heyfever?" he asked returning to his seat.
"No, well yes I went swimming a few days ago" she admitted, "I always came first in the school gala's especially for underwater races…"
"Do you have any common sense whatsoever?" Martin interrupted, "You have just demonstrated the perfect symptoms of stupidity. Obviously you're eyes cannot adjust to the small dosage of chlorine in the water, therefore they see it as a foreign substance causing swelling and redness as a defence!"
"Oh" she said in realisation.
"Now that's the consultation over. Goodbye Mrs Timmons!" growled Martin, "Waste of time this village is!"
…..
"No, well he hasn't been the same since she's left" Pauline stated on the phone to Al, "I know she only went to Dorset for time to think, but seriously she's been gone for over three weeks now."
Martin marched into the waiting room and Pauline immediately put down the phone.
"Pauline do some work" Martin ordered, "Stop gossiping and at least send off the lab requests"
"Doc" she said with a concerned look, "How are you feeling?"
Martin looked round and saw there was a waiting room full of patients. He glared back at Pauline.
"Next patient!" he called and marched back off into his consulting room.
….
Martin sat at the kitchen table as just finished his meal. He was intently looking out the front window at the school. Recently he had noticed that Mrs Wallis, the deputy head had taken Louisa's place for the time being.
At that thought, his heart sank knowing that Louisa may have left for good without telling him. Continuing staring at the plain white building that genuinely meant nothing, but a school to others, however for Martin reminded him of the woman he loved more than anything in the world. The one he had just let go without a debate.
The day after the most humiliating day that he had ever embarked, Martin decided to stay indoors and not answer the door to any of the nosey locals who had nothing better to do.
He considered that Louisa did too and he didn't want to approach her, but instead give her space just like he needed. Watching her walk down the hill in her white wedding dress, thinking that he had lost her forever was the most regretful thing he had ever done.
He read the letter over again, trying to grasp what it all meant, the words wouldn't make a correct sentence no matter how many times he looked over it.
That evening Joan came in to tell him that Louisa had gone to Dorset to be alone. Martin thought that she wouldn't come back, but he knew that her cottage still stood with furniture inside and there wasn't a 'For Sale' or 'For Rent' sign been put up.
Everyday from there on he always secretly peeped in through the window when he walked passed, to check if anybody was there or not. Not being able to see Louisa was becoming unbearable, he wanted her to return so he could watch her from a distance.
As he sat now, three weeks later, at the table alone he saw just how Portwenn really was to him. The village was dull despite the rolling hills and deep blue sea; it was quiet, there was no sound of her voice and above all it meant nothing to him. There was no reason to carry on staying there, there was no reason to put up with the nuisance of stupid patients who moaned all the time, and there was nothing to look forward to. It was all gone now that Louisa had.
To Be Continued…