The Insomniacs Are Sleeping
-a tale of heart brake-
2-
"My stomach hurts a little..." Rubbing my stomach, I look up at him, finding only concern. Strange for a doctor to show that much compassion. Maybe he really loves his job...?
"You have an ulcer. It's small but it will hurt. I guess the medications have stopped doing there job." He sighs and goes to the back room where I hear paper flipping and a drawer being opened. I hope it's not a shot. I really hate shots. He comes back with... what else. A syringe.
"Is it going to hurt?" I whisper. His eyes are opened wide with confusion.
"Hurt?" He repeats, a small smile appearing on his face. "No it shouldn't. But- you're afraid of shots aren't you?" I nod. I'm such a dummy. He's being so nice, wasting his time on my ailments. "Hey can you do me a favor?"
"Favor?" My turn to repeat things. He nods.
"Yes. I need you to tell me what kind of tree that is. You seem to know a lot about things. Could you?" He points out the window. I turn my head and smile.
"That's simple! It's a Mora tree. Changes colors with the seasons. Quite pretty don't you-" I turn my head back to him and find the needle in my arm. I didn't even feel it. My eyes grow wide. He pulls it out and looks up at me.
"Go on."
"No! That was a dirty trick!" And yet I'm smiling. I don't know why but I am. He simply chuckles.
"It's a mental thing. Patients tend to be more afraid of it in their minds and when they see something, they create a fear or a pain. It's not real. It's not meant to hurt. I hope it didn't." His eyes a like the night sky. They're so dark and hidden and yet... there's something in them that glimmers, some passion burning far away...
"It... it didn't. I-" I bow my head. "I'm sorry." I can feel my blush already. "I should be used to shots, right? But for some reason they always scare me."
"What's to be so frightening in here? If there was something scary, I'd know about it." He smiles again. It's strange- his smiles. Like he's smiling on the inside, a grand dazzling gorgeously happy smile but on the outside, it comes out in a thin wisp... it's almost like he's holding back. Almost like he's keeping everything inside himself, like a stubborn child hoarding all the toys. I can't help but to laugh. "The scariest thing in here is probably me and I don't bite."
"My dog does."
"You have a dog too?"
"And a pig..."
"A pig! How- why?"
"Never mind... long story."
"What are there names? Or... genders? Whichever is more important."
"Names are definitely more important pet-wise." I say with a laugh. "The dog's name is Puddles... you can guess why. And the pig's name is Truffle."
"Truffle?" I point outside and he looks confused.
"The Mora tree. Truffles are found under Mora trees but they're still so hidden it takes a special kind of nose to find them. A pig's nose."
"That's awfully clever." He seems to be reflecting on something inside himself. He reminds me for an instant of a turtle, hiding from the world inside his shell and thinking about something so deep that nothing can pry him out. And if you remove the shell... he dies.
"What are you thinking..." I murmur, lost in thought.
"What?"
"I- I'm tired. Thank you so much for looking after me. I think- I think I'll take a nap now."
"Wait-" He blushes crimson. Wait..? A doctor usually doesn't tell his patients not to sleep. Especially when they have sleeping problems to begin with. "I just was wondering... have you... settled in? Are you- are you bonding well with every one here?" Strange question.
"Every one's nice I guess. But so far, you're my favorite." I smile wide to show him I mean well and laugh quietly before sinking into the covers. He really is nice...
The last thing I see is his dark hair shadowing those mysterious eyes, lost in thought.