I quickly restored myself, plastering on another smile.
“Ah, yes. Of course.” I said, hoping he didn’t catch my slip in composure. “So, you’ll definitely be there?”
“Duh, there’s no way I’m letting you two announce it when I’m obviously going to be your best man.” He grinned down at me widely, taking the papers.
I grimaced. “Oh, well…” It was there, on the tip of my tongue, to confess everything I was going through with Molly. I couldn't bear to face Dom after what I'd done, and he was one of the few people I could confide in.
But Ralph cut me off with a laugh. “Come on, I’m just joking. I know no one’s ever going to replace Dom,” he said as he clapped me on the shoulder.
This time I couldn't keep my composure as another realisation sunk through me.
My stomach dropped as I lowered my briefcase, ice creeping through my veins.
I’d asked Dom to be my best man. And he'd said yes.
Dom would be right next to me as I pledged myself to Molly, watching on with a smile, handing me the rings. And after everything he had done on the yacht, he would be the first to congratulate me on my marriage. If it ever came to pass.
I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. There was no way I could do it. I couldn't let that happen. But that meant replying to his messages first.
“Harry?” Ralph pulled me from my thoughts. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Sorry.” I cleared my throat, gathering myself. I couldn’t brush away the nausea, but I could at least act like I hadn’t done yet another stupid thing to mess up my life even further.
“I have an appointment soon. Is there anything else you need from me?” I asked.
Ralph had the same attitude as Dom in that he preferred to take life lightly. The difference was that he might have noticed that something was wrong, but Ralph wouldn’t push me to share. Unlike Dom, who would ‘encourage’ the truth from me one way or another.
“Well, I'd offer you lunch, but it’s not exactly the high-end cuisine you’re used to. I can't imagine you eating instant noodles like we did when we were interns.” He grinned. “So that’s all. Just the files.” He held them up, giving them a little shake before opening his own locker.
I scowled as I watched him, failing to stem my annoyance at the situation Molly had forced me into, along with the other one I had made for myself.
“Don’t be too hard on her, eh?” Ralph said with his back to me.
I twisted my lips as I sighed. “I don’t think I’m being hard on Molly. I simply don’t see why Ishould—”
But my words were lost as a scream pierced beyond the door, followed by panicked yells of “Doctor!” “Nurse!” “Somebody help!”
The locker area descended into a hush, and there was only time for a single breath before the room exploded. Suddenly, thirty people were slamming lockers, abandoning bags, grabbing protective masks and gloves from the tables in the middle of the room as they all struggled to file out toward the shouts and screams that were only getting louder.
I knew those sounds. They were sounds I used to deal with everyday working in the Accident and Emergency Department. And knew from the pitch and frequency that people were already dying.
Ralph shot me a look. “Come on, that sounds pretty bad.”
“What are you talking about?”
“We're seriously understaffed, and you still know how to treat people, right? Grab an apron,” he said, thrusting a mask into my hand.
“I don't have a licence anymore,” I said, my eyes wide as my heart picked up, and the shouts from outside the room grew louder.
“I'll cover for you! Let's go!” he said as he raced off to join them.
Part of me knew it could end horribly, but my mind had already switched to work mode, and all I could think about was saving lives. It was what I had trained for so long to do, and I didn't want to turn away from people in need.
I threw off my suit jacket as Ralph sprinted through the door, and the room was plunged into silence as I was left alone. It had been three years since I’d treated a patient, but my hands and mind remembered. I snatched a pair of rubber gloves and a stethoscope, as well as a lone blue apron that had been left hanging on the door.
I pulled it on as I ran out to the ward, steeling myself for what was to come.
Harry