Nine

9

"Finally. I really have to move on with my life now." she said and scooped some food in her mouth.

Xavier twisted and rolled all over the bed, he could sleep he laid down straight up facing the ceiling as his whole thoughts drifted to Anna.

***Flashbacks***

Xavier paced around the room rehearsing the best words to tell Anna about his feelings for her. 

"Anna, I've loved you ever since the very first moment I've seen you, I know that you're with my brother. And that you're happy but I think that I can make you so much more happy." He recited. 

"Yes!" He rejoiced at his winning, his heart beating so fast, he nodded in so much confidence and stepped out to meet her.

"Yeah, I will marry you Michael!" Anna said happily, Micheal slid the ring in-between her finger and they kissed happily. Xavier's eyes widened and he stopped halfway. Tears were already forming in his eyes.

Michael disengaged the kiss and turned to him smiling broadly "Xavier…look! She finally agreed to marry me!" He rejoiced happily. Anna showed off her ring happily to Xavier, unknown to her that he is in pain while looking at those rings on their fingers.

"I'm going to be your sister-in-law!" Anna smiled joyfully. Xavier just forced himself to smile. "I'm really happy for both of you. That's great news!" Xavier swallowed hard. He walked out of the house and stood outside under the scorching sun with sadness and bitterness. He wiped the tears in the corners of his eyes. He quickly brought out his phone and dialed a number.

"Hey dad. I have thought about your decision of me studying abroad, and I think it will be a good idea to study abroad." He said bitterly. "Hmm…why the sudden change of mind, huh?" His father asked over the phone.

"Nothing makes me happy here anymore. I have to study hard." He responded and hung up the call.

***Flashbacks ends***

Xavier turned to the other side of the bed, he sat up and held his head in a thoughtful mood. 

"Does this mean I got a second chance in life?" He smiled at himself. Anna in the other room smiled at herself and also muttered. "Maybe God has given me a second chance to love again."

****

Morning.

"Grrrgggggg!" The alarm bell rang, Anna woke up and heaved a sigh. She feels so tired and at the same happy because her days off are over and finally,she will be going to work! She bounced off from the bed and rushed off to the bathroom. Starting from losing her hair, she brushed her teeth and showered. Applied her skincare routines which she got from Nivea skincare products. You know what? That's her best product for her skincare routines. Xavier helped her get it from the closest store last night.

Anna stepped out of the bathroom, she dressed up in her blue scrubs and white sneakers eliminating her beautiful body and glowing skin. She got downstairs and met Xavier in the kitchen preparing pancakes and eggs for breakfast. Hmmm so yummy!

"Hey, good morning." She smiled, Xavier smiled as well upon noticing her presence.

"Good morning, how was your night?" He asked. "It was perfect thanks to you!" She responded.

"What's for breakfast? You shouldn't have bothered. I do really eat at work." She said,

"It's not a problem. After all, you made dinner for me last night, so I return The favor." He chuckled. Anna sat down and waited, soon he finished cooking and they ate silently.

"I will come and pick you up after work okay?" He said, wiping his mouth.

"Ummm, sure!" Anna responded and dashed out of the house. Xavier ran after her. "Anna!" He called behind her.

"Yeah, did you need anything?" She asked. "No, no. Just…um…let me drop you off." He suggested. Anna was about to talk when Jessica's car halted in front of the house.

"Hey girl! Hop in, let's go." Jessica shouted, Anna smiled and walked to the car, she turned to Xavier.

"You take care okay?" She said, Xavier nodded and they drove off.

"Oh Jessy! You're really a life saver." Anna giggled.

*****

Anna got to work and dropped her bag in the nurses room. Sorry to introduce late, she is a pediatrician. Today is their Antenatal day and it's her turn to teach and advise pregnant mothers in the lesson room.

She walked briskly to the room and greeted everyone.

"Good morning everyone. My name is nurse Anna. As you all know, Today I will be teaching you guys what you should do as an expectant mother. Firstly: Take your daily prenatal vitamins. Get up to date on your immunizations before pregnancy.Establish prenatal care.Stay active during pregnancy like exercising is good for your babies.Gain a healthy amount of weight during pregnancy.Take care of your mental health. Talk to your provider about drug or alcohol use.Seek medical care if needed during pregnancy." Anna explained and they all gave her a round of applause. 

"You slut!" A lady shouldn't from the back and everyone turned to the direction. Anna's face immediately, it was no other person but Sophie!

Sophie rushes to her and drags her hair vigorously in front of the pregnant mothers. 

"You fool! You came here to teach pregnant mothers? Oh please teach yourself first you're not even pregnant you're a barren woman crying out loud. You only teach what you know! Go and get your own child as a woman." Sophie yelled. The other nurse disengaged the fight and Sophie rubbed her tummy in a mockery way. "My baby has been kicking since today!" She laughed.

"What is it Sophie? What the heck did you think you're doing? How dare you!" Anna yelled angrily at her. Anna landed a resounding slap on Sophie's cheeks not minding her pregnancy.

"The next time you try this rubbish attitude of yours, I will make sure you rot in jail for violence!" She said angrily. Sophie held her cheeks and cried "I must let Michael know about this! Watch and see!" She said and rushed out of the hospital. The nurse led Anna to the nurses room.

****

Anna's heart raced as she stood outside the doctor's office.The cold, sterile walls felt like they were closing in on her. She knew this meeting was coming, but nothing could prepare her for the reality of it. Her palms were sweaty, and her throat tightened as she knocked on the door.

"Come in," the doctor's voice was stern, devoid of warmth.

Anna pushed the door open and stepped inside. Dr. Harris was seated behind his desk, his gaze piercing through her as if she was just another file to be closed. His usually kind eyes were hard, and his lips were pressed into a thin line. The air in the room felt suffocating.

"Please, sit," he said, not looking up from the papers in front of him.

Anna slowly lowered herself into the chair, her hands clutching her bag tightly. She could feel the weight of the words that were about to be spoken, and her heart sank.

"Anna," Dr. Harris began, finally looking up at her. There was a flicker of regret in his eyes, but it was quickly masked by professionalism. "I'm afraid we have to let you go."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. She felt the blood drain from her face, and her vision blurred with tears she refused to let fall. She tried to keep her voice steady, but it trembled as she spoke. "Why… why now? I've always been dedicated… I've given everything to this job."

Dr. Harris sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I know you have, Anna. But there have been… complications. Sophie has raised concerns, and the board has decided that it's best to part ways."

Sophie. The name sent a jolt of pain through Anna's chest. Her husband's mistress, now responsible for taking away the one thing she had left. Her fingers dug into the armrests of the chair as she fought to keep her composure.

"I understand," Anna whispered, her voice barely audible. But inside, she was screaming, her heart shattering into pieces. "Thank you for everything, Dr. Harris."

Without another word, she stood up and left the office, the door closing behind her with a finality that echoed through her soul. She walked through the corridors in a daze, barely aware of her surroundings until she stepped outside and saw Jessica waiting for her.

Jessica's face softened with concern as she rushed to Anna's side. "Anna, what happened?" she asked, her voice filled with worry.

Anna couldn't hold it in any longer. The tears she'd been holding back came flooding out as she collapsed into Jessica's arms. "They fired me," she choked out, her body trembling with the force of her sobs.

Jessica held her close, rubbing soothing circles on her back. "I'm so sorry, Anna. I'm here for you, okay? We'll get through this together."

The two friends stayed like that until nightfall, with Jessica refusing to leave her side. When Anna finally gathered the strength to go home, it was well past dark. The weight of the day clung to her like a heavy shroud as she walked to Xavier's house.

Xavier was waiting for her, his expression a mix of worry and anger. "Anna, what happened? You've been gone all day."

Anna felt her heart break all over again as she looked into Xavier's eyes. He was her rock, her support, and she couldn't bear to bring him down with her problems. "I… I was fired, Xavier," she confessed, her voice trembling with emotion.

Xavier's eyes darkened, and his fists clenched at his sides. "That's not right. They had no reason to do that. Was it… was it because of Sophie?"

Anna nodded, her eyes filling with tears once more. "Yes… she made sure of it."

Xavier pulled her into a tight embrace, his voice filled with determination. "You don't deserve this, Anna. You're worth so much more. Come work with me at my company. I'll make sure you're taken care of."

But Anna shook her head, pulling away slightly to look up at him. "I can't, Xavier. I don't want to be a burden to you. I need to figure this out on my own."

Xavier's face softened, but the worry in his eyes remained. "You're never a burden to me, Anna. I just want to help you."

"I know," Anna whispered, leaning into his embrace again. "But I need to do this myself. I need to find my own way."

The next morning, Anna woke up with a sense of resolve. She dressed carefully, her face set with determination. The pain of the previous day still lingered, but she refused to let it defeat her. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she took a deep breath. She wouldn't let Sophie or anyone else dictate her life.

She was done with hospitals for now. It was time to find a new path, a new beginning. And she would do it on her own terms.