True Love Waits

"That's right. Well, I'll let you get back to what you were doing. I need to get to work myself." Without much explanation, Sheffield turned and headed for his office.

He happened to meet Horace. The other doctor was on his way to see a patient. Horace whispered, "Dude! There's a girl waiting for you. She said she was a friend. She's been here at least a good half-hour." He pointed his finger at the office.

Sheffield turned and saw a familiar figure through the window.

It was her!

Ignoring the curious looks from his colleagues, he walked up to the woman and said coldly, "It's been a while."

The woman was pretty. And fashionable. Everything on her was high-end, brand-name clothing. "Off the rack" was a foreign term to her. Beneath an ankle-length Khaki coat, she wore a knee-length cream- white dress with a pair of navy blue high-heeled shoes. A black shoulder bag completed the outfit.

Her light brown hair was parted in the middle. It was long, falling about her shoulders. She wore light make-up, brown eye shadow, and purple lipstick.

She smiled and said nothing.

"Let's go!" Sheffield gestured to her. He wanted to talk, but outside the office.

While the other doctors were whispering to each other about them, the woman followed Sheffield outside.

It was December and the temperature was scarcely above freezing. After wrapping her coat about her, she took a look at the man walking in front of her and smiled.

When they came to the corridor leading to the hospital garden, she spoke first. "I get it, Dr. Tang. You're busy. You don't text back or answer my calls. I came here three times hoping to see you. No luck. And today, I must have waited an hour before you finally took the time to visit." There was no blame in her tone, but a trace of helplessness.

Sheffield turned back to look at her. "Yeah, I've been really busy. There something I can do for you?" he replied honestly.

"I moved back. I found a job with a big company, working as the manager of the finance department." Gillian Chi lived here before, then lived abroad for a time. She had recently decided to come back. She sounded quite proud of her new position. A department head was nothing to sneeze at. And so soon after coming back here.

"Congratulations!" Leaning against a pillar, Sheffield took out his lighter from his pocket and began to play with it. Flicking it open, watching the flame, then closing it again.

enthusiasm made her feel helpless. "Are you busy now?

see Evelyn. How could he

continued to walk

glancing at his lighter, the young woman asked,

I know

Suddenly, something occurred to her. She caught up with the man and asked, "Why did you quit racing? That was your favorite hobby. Well, that, and computers." Sheffield used to play on the

change. I found something more important to

you don't

"Yes!"

a woman. That true?" Gillian Chi and he shared common friends in the racing circles. Someone told her Sheffield gave

like Sheffield would never give up his favorite car just for a

it's true, then

Chi was very

pissed her off, he smiled. "If there's nothing else, I have to get back

get together later. We

woman." He raised his head and looked at the sky. It was getting colder and

early thirties, for crap's sake. She still looks young. She's not old at all," she

Even if she were only three, she'll always be a vulgar old woman to me!" Then Sheffield put away

A doctor. A surgeon even. I'm proud of you," Gillian Chi went on, grabbing his sleeve. After all, in her eyes, he used to be a lazy bum, just a jerk who always fooled around. Apart

know his background

He was so dashing in that doctor's getup that she could

of disgust flashed in his eyes. "I told you. I have a

let him go. "But

sneered. "I just went

before she realized what he meant.

That's my apartment. Oh, wait... I have another

a girlfriend?" Gillian