In that moment, I understood that Ezra cared about me as more than just a friend. It was in the tender gazes and the soft smiles. I may have been unlucky in love before but that didn’t mean I didn’t read the signs.
I… I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. But I did know that I liked it.
“Thank you, Ezra,” I said honestly, “For everything you’ve done for me…really…I don’t even have words to express how thankful I am for your presence. I think I would’ve probably gone insane if you weren’t here."
His eyes met mine, shimmering with a depth of understanding. “You always underestimate yourself, Zoya and you need to stop that. You’re far stronger than you think. You handled the entire incident so well. You are brave and strong and I really admire that about you.”
I felt my chest swell with emotions that I wasn’t very familiar with and I think I knew exactly where this was headed and still, I was unable to stop my heart.
“Excuse me while I go make a call,” I told him as I retrieved my phone from the counter, needing to take a breather after the realization. He hummed in response and I took it as a sign to leave.
Leaving the comforting embrace of the cabin, I stepped outside into the crisp mountain air. The signal bar on my phone had dwindled to a mere sliver. I would have to venture a little farther to make a call.
With determination in my stride, I found a spot where the signal was slightly stronger, and I dialed Cam's number.
The anticipation built within me as the line connected, and soon Cam's voice resonated through the receiver. "Zoya, how are you feeling?" she asked, concern lacing her words.
A flicker of relief washed over me, hearing the familiar voice of my friend on the other end of the line. "I'm getting better, Cam," I replied, my voice carrying a hint of gratitude. "But I wanted to check on the patient with the broken arm. Is everything alright?"
Cam's response came swiftly, soothing my worries. "Don't worry, Zoya. The patient's arm has been taken care of, and they're recovering well. They’ll be transferred to the city hospital by noon and an ambulance is already on its way up the hill."
A sigh of relief escaped my lips, mingling with a sense of reassurance.
“Thanks, Cam.” I told her sincerely. “I should let you do your work now.”
“Oh! Zoya, Ezra is there right?”
I was a bit surprised by that question. “Yes…how did you know?”
There was a brief pause on the other end, followed by a gentle chuckle. "Ezra came by earlier, concerned about your well-being. He wanted to make sure you had the necessary medication to help with your recovery. You're lucky to have someone looking out for you like that."
Warmth bloomed within my chest, gratitude mingled with a touch of surprise.
Cam's voice carried a note of gentle suggestion as she said, "Zoya, I think it would be best if you took another day off to fully recover. Rest and give yourself the time you need to heal.”
“No, I couldn’t—” I began to protest, but she cut me off.
“You should rest more,” she said sternly, “because it is only then that you will be able to be a good doctor and treat your patients with precision and skill. You can’t expect them to be happy that their own doctor isn’t in the best shape.”
Her words resonated within me, and suddenly the thought of having more time off felt so tempting..
Perhaps I could take the off time just this once…
Nodding in agreement, even though she couldn't see it, I replied, “Okay. You’re right. I'll take your advice and give myself another day to rest. Thank you for understanding."
As I ended the call, a newfound sense of peace settled over me. The weight of responsibility and the constant need to be strong began to dissipate, replaced by the understanding that allowing myself time to heal was not a sign of weakness, but rather an act of self-preservation
And finally, I knew that there were people I could count on. People who actually wanted what’s best for me and cared about me. And this heartwarming realization was the best feeling in the world.