Chapter 2The Moment We Broke Up

My discharge was scheduled for ten o’clock. I sat on the hospital bed, waiting until past noon, but Patrick was nowhere to be seen. The nurse doing rounds looked surprised to find me still in the room. “Ms. Davies, aren’t you being discharged today?”

I forced a smile. “Waiting for a friend to pick me up.”

Unable to bear the gossiping looks of the other patients, I called Patrick. No one answered. I waited until past three in the afternoon, but Patrick still didn’t show up. He hadn’t sent any messages, and his phone was still unreachable.

A nurse walked over, looking somewhat embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Ms. Davies, a new patient is moving in.”

I gave a wry smile. “No worries, I’ll leave now.”

Just as I limped to the hospital entrance on crutches, Patrick rushed in. “I’m so sorry, darling, I just dropped Eleanor off at the company this morning, and rushed over from the next city…”

I cut him off with a light laugh. “It’s fine.”

Patrick paused, then frowned, looking slightly annoyed. “You’re angry. Are you mad that I’m late? Or mad at Eleanor…”

“I’m not angry.” I handed him the luggage bag I was carrying. “Please take me home. I’m a bit tired.”

“Claire.” He didn’t take the bag. Instead, he stared at me unhappily. “Where did you learn to be so sarcastic?”

“You never used to be like this.”

The luggage bag was heavy, and my arm trembled with exhaustion, so I placed it on the ground.

“How am I?” I stared at him with a smile in my eyes, stating frankly, “Am I wrong to understand you?”

“I…” Patrick looked a bit embarrassed. He bent down to pick up the luggage bag. “Never mind. Let’s just go home.”

I slowly got into the back seat on my crutches. Patrick turned to glare at me, looking displeased, but I quickly said, “The back is more spacious.” He pursed his lips and said nothing more. Perhaps tired from waiting for him so long, I vaguely leaned against the window and drifted off to sleep. Until Patrick’s phone rang.