I didn ’ t dare turn around for fear of what my eyes might tell . My blood was boiling . I needed air . But I had to resume my polite demeanor . After all , he was just a father fighting for his child ’ s life , and I knew all too well what it was to lose a loved one . I finally turned , a soft smile on my face , to meet his gaze .
“ I understand your concern , Mister Foster , but we need to stay calm right now . Dylan is depending on us , right ? I can ’ t treat him properly without my medical bag . I ’ m staying at the Sentrigard Hotel & Suites on Piccadilly . I ’ ll only be gone a few minutes . I promise .”
With that , I left , leaving Herald on the landing , his wife finally joining him on the stairs .
* * *
My back digging into the wall , I stood in a quiet alley a block away from the Foster house . The jagged red brick poked through the heavy material of my coat , reaching my skin , like little needles on tender flesh . The pain felt good . It reminded me that I was still alive and kept me at-the-ready , though , at that moment , I longed for death . I couldn ’ t shake the familiar feeling of the past . Emily . Her long dark hair , her bright smile . The sunshine that made my day happy – gone . My eyes blurred the more I remembered Emily , the pain in my back nothing to what I felt in my heart . Why ? Why must I endure her death every time I call on a patient ? First , Sara Holstadtler , then the little boy outside my hotel , now Dylan Foster .
I unconsciously took out my flask from the inside pocket of my coat and guzzled the contents . The flask
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