Today, I had a follow-up appointment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Just as I looked up from registering at the front desk, I saw two people who had no business being there.
Scarlett froze, clearly not expecting to run into me. She forced a smile and was about to greet me when a man appeared behind her, panting as he struggled with two large bags.
Of all the people to see in a hospital, it had to be them. And the man struggling with her bags was, of course, my boyfriend of seven years.
I clenched my fingers, trying to keep my voice steady and suppress the emotions churning inside me.
"Fancy seeing you two here."
Noah immediately launched into a string of explanations, but the more he talked, the colder my smile became.
"Couldn't you have answered her questions over the phone? Did you really have to bring her here yourself and run her errands all over the hospital?"
"She wanted to get her vocal cords checked before the release party. She's never been here before and was worried about getting lost. I was just passing by, so I offered to help. What's the big deal? Or are you just uncomfortable seeing me with another woman now? You weren't like this before, Ava," Noah said, his voice laced with frustration.
Before he could finish, Scarlett stepped forward with an apologetic smile.
"Ava, I'm so sorry. I should have come by myself, but Noey is just too kind. He saw I was alone and was afraid I wouldn't be able to figure things out, so he insisted on coming with me. Next time, I'll manage on my own. I won't bother you two again."
Noey?
The nickname was a knife to the gut, sharp and sudden.
Scarlett continued with feigned concern, "Um, sorry to ask, Ava, but what are you here for today?"
She was clearly trying to change the subject.
Noah took the bait, turning to me with a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "Are you here to pick up more diet pills? You haven't started crash dieting again, have you?"
I forced a smile. There was no point in dieting anymore. I was too tired to lie. Seeing his furrowed brow, I decided to just tell him the truth.
"It's a lump in my breast. The doctor wants to do a biopsy."
Scarlett let out a small gasp, feigning understanding. "Oh, I see! But that's actually very common, don't worry too much about it."
Hearing this, Noah's tense frown finally relaxed. He glanced at my medical report, then wrinkled his nose in annoyance. "Is all this really necessary? All these tests for something so minor?"
With that, he turned to leave.
I stood there, watching him walk away, and couldn't help but call after him, "Since you're here, can't you just stay with me for the exam?"
He glanced at his watch, his tone suddenly impatient. "Ava, you didn't tell me you were coming. I really can't stay. I have a meeting at the studio. I'll bring you your favorite honey tarts when I get home tonight."
I opened my mouth, but in the end, said nothing.
I didn't touch a single one of the honey tarts he brought home that night. When he wasn't looking, I threw them straight into the gray trash can in the kitchen.
It wasn't that I didn't like them, but the doctor had given me strict orders. They would trigger hormonal issues and only worsen my condition.
If I kept putting this off, I could be facing surgery by next spring, with no guarantee of survival.
So, I made up my mind. I needed a break. That very day, I started drafting my leave of absence request for the studio.
The next morning, Noah stormed in like a tornado, his face as dark as thunder. "When did you request time off? Why didn't you tell me? This is the worst possible time to take leave. Who's going to handle Scarlett's single now?!"
It was then I realized that Scarlett's single still hadn't been finalized; she was still unsatisfied.
But I was at my limit. My head was buzzing, and I felt utterly drained. I couldn't muster any more energy or pretend to be fine for someone else's sake.
So I told him exactly what the doctor had said.
His expression changed as he listened. His voice softened, and he pulled me into his arms.
"This is my fault. I've been so buried in work, I didn't even notice how exhausted you were. But please, just hang on a little longer. When this is all over, I'll take you to Napa Valley. Just the two of us."
