Notes

Whenever I got sick as a child, my mom would always take me to the same doctor. Doctor Ryan London. He was always very kind to me, never forgetting to give me a treat at the end of every checkup. On my thirteenth birthday, it was Doctor London who'd gotten me the expensive vine patterned bracelet that I'd wanted for a long time. And when I got the virus, Doctor London would always have a fresh vase full of calla lilies on my bedside table. He was a person that I could always speak to and know that he was telling me the truth. Sometimes, he was the only person that I could go to for honest advice. He was the person who told me that I shouldn’t go out with Taylor West because he was a jerk. And the person who encouraged me to go to last year’s prom even without a date. He promised that it would be fun, and it had been. And whenever my parents and I were fighting, Doctor London was the person I went to so that I could calm down. He had never lied to me, so I had never expected him to keep anything from me either.
Which is why I’m surprised when he walks through the door after Doctor Monaghan finishes talking to me. He smiles at me and walks over. Sitting on the bed near my feet he says, “Hey, Val. How are you?” I glare at him with my mint green eyes and reply, “Fine.” Doctor London frowns at me and reaches for my hand. I yank it away and take a deep breath. “You’re part of this - ” I gesture at the room around me “ - thing, that took me away from my parents and best friend?” Doctor London doesn’t meet my eyes. I stare at him, willing him to answer me. He opens his mouth to say something, but a younger nurse pops her head in.