Playing Doctor

"May I help you?" the receptionist asked once she entered the office.

"Hi, I'm Aurelia Carson? I'm here to see Dr. West? I have an appointment."

"Oh, yes. I have it right here. Have a seat and I'll let him know you've arrived."

Aurelia sat down in one of the plush seats and waited. Five minutes later, a nurse called her name and took her back to an exam room. She took her blood pressure and temp then told her Dr. West would be in momentarily.

"Good afternoon, Aurelia," he said entering the room.

The sound of his voice saying her name sent a shiver of pleasure down her back and she had to stamp out the crush that was slowly building in her heart for him. "Hi."

"How are you feeling? Been getting some rest?" He closed the door and sat down across from her at the small computer desk.

"Yes, but no matter what I do, I still feel weak."

He nodded. "Yes, that's probably going to linger for a bit still. You did a number on that heart of yours, but luckily hearts are pretty resilient." He winked at her. "Let's get you started on a few tests."

He moved about the room, pulling out things he needed, then set up a machine and attached some electrode patches to her chest. Aurelia admired how he moved and the obvious strength he had. He looked delicious today in a navy-blue pair of slacks and light blue button-down shirt. He didn't have his jacket on, and he was without a tie. He looked almost relaxed.

"So how did you end up with the guy who was controlling? You don't strike me as the kind of girl who would go for someone like that," he questioned after asking her a series of health-related questions.

Aurelia sighed. "I met him at a party thrown by my boss at the time. He was handsome, smart, and funny. I got snookered. Everything he presented to the outside world was a lie, but I didn't realize it until after he'd already cut me off from my friends, got me to quit my job and move in with him. I was completely dependent on him, which was what he wanted."

Dr. West nodded. "How long after you met him did that happen?"

"It was a slow progression. I mean, it started off with he didn't like the way my friend Vannah flirted with him. Over that first year, he weeded out every single one of my friends until I had none left, but I had him and I wasn't exactly isolated. I still went to work, we went out, I was too busy to even realize that was what had happened. Then it was my job. It took up so much of my time and wouldn't it be great if we could travel whenever we wanted? And if I moved in, then I wouldn't have to work anyway. I finally caved and quit my job and moved in with him when my lease was up. That was after we'd been together for about three years."

"So, it really was a slow progression." He shook his head. "When did he start giving you the diuretics?"

"That started about five years ago. He said I had grown lazy and let my figure go." Aurelia rolled her eyes. "It was just easier to take them than to argue with him. And I enjoyed the workout routine, it at least gave me something to do during the day while he was gone to work."

"What made you leave?"

Aurelia bit her lip and shook her head. "Don't laugh."

"I would never."

"It was an old movie. It didn't exactly fit my situation, but there were elements that were uncomfortably close."

"Which movie?"

"Gaslight? It's from 1944. It was on one of those classic movie stations on cable."

Dr. West nodded. "Oh, that's a good one. I like crime dramas and thrillers."

They spoke about movies for a little while then as he checked her oxygen levels. They found they both really liked the same kinds of movies and books, ones with lots of mystery, drama, and action.

"Did you see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?" he asked.

Aurelia nodded. "I did, that was a good one." She smiled. "I read the books too, they were great."

He grinned as he checked over her tests. "Did you ever catch Kiss the Girls?"

"Oh, that's a James Patterson one, right? I read the book, but I haven't seen the film, is it any good?"

"It's great, you should check it out." He smiled as he pushed the equipment back into place.

"I will, I saw another good one on that classic movie station, um… I think it was called In the Heat of the Night… it had Sidney Portier in it. It was really good."

"I haven't seen that one, I'll check it out." He turned back to her and held a hand out to help her to stand. "Your tests look pretty good for today, so I suppose I'll have to let you go back to work." He chuckled. "But I want to see you back in here on Friday."