Moments of Clarity Read Online Free PDF

“Messages have been deleted.” Then she stripped off her clothing and headed for the bathroom to try shower away the stench of the day’s events.

Chapter 3
    St. Mary’s Hospital was one of the busiest in Manhattan. There was a newly built cardiac unit and a sports conditioning unit that housed the latest equipment in the tri-state area. It had been recognized nationally for the last three years as best in customer satisfaction.
    Sasha was in the process of dictating notes into her voice recorder when she felt three light taps on her shoulder. When she looked up and saw her favorite patient standing next to her, she ceased her dictation and gently scolded him. “Mr. Ramirez, what are you doing out here in the hall? You know that you’re not supposed to be wandering around. It’s dangerous to your health.”
    Mr. Ramirez answered grumpily, “It can’t be more dangerous than letting some of these first-year interns work on me.”
    Sasha smiled at him and whispered conspiratorially, “You don’t have to worry about that. Every time they leave your room I go behind them and check your chart to make sure that you’re being well taken care of.”
    Mr. Ramirez’s voice was plaintive. “Good, because that last guy had no bedside manner at all. I needed to use the bathroom while he was there and he wouldn’t help me. He said that he would send for a nurse. I waited for twenty minutes or so before she got there. It was only by the will of God that I didn’t pee on myself.”
    â€œYou should have called for me. I wouldn’t have minded coming to your aid.”
    â€œI don’t want to be more of a pain to you than I already am. As it is, you stay after work an extra hour every night just to keep me company.” He blinked away tears at the mention of the kindness Sasha had shown him since he had been admitted into the hospital three weeks ago.
    Sasha gently turned Mr. Ramirez back in the direction of his room and once there, she steadied him as he slid onto the bed. Though he made no noise, his facial expression showed the spasms of pain he felt at every movement. She pressed the button on the side of the bed, raising the back of it until he was in a comfortable sitting position.
    â€œDon’t you dare thank me,” she ordered. “I do that for me just as much as you. You’re the only one that I can get a decent game of cards with.”
    â€œWhat about your fella? Doesn’t he play cards?”
    Sasha hesitated before speaking and then she said brusquely, “No, and it doesn’t matter now. We broke up.”
    â€œSo you got tired of him, huh? I’m not surprised. You two had nothing in common,” Mr. Ramirez replied with conviction.
    â€œThat’s not exactly what happened. He was cheating on me and I caught him at it.” Sasha’s eyes flashed fire when she thought about her previous day’s discovery.
    â€œUsually when a man cheats on a beautiful and successful woman it’s because he’s insecure.”
    Sasha shook her head in denial. “Abdul wasn’t insecure. As a matter of fact, he was too secure,” she added sarcastically.
    â€œHas he called you to make up?” Mr. Ramirez asked.
    â€œHe’s left some messages on my phone, but I haven’t returned his calls. Without going into detail, I can never forgive him for what he’s done.” Sasha was quiet for a moment and then said, “And there’s absolutely nothing he can say to change how I feel.”
    Her telephone was ringing when she entered the apartment. Giving a sigh from sheer tiredness, Sasha slowly walked over to her answering machine. As she reached to pick up the receiver she heard Abdul’s angry voice: “Sasha, I know that you’re standing there listening to me. You are so childish by not at least returning my calls.”
    Sasha stared at the answering machine with hands on hips,