When we were six or seven years old, we played a game; doctor. We chose one to be the doctor, another to be the person to take our names as we arrived and the rest of us were patients. Like in real hospitals, we went in with a frown and came out with a smile. I never wondered why until it was my turn that first time. We always chose Jeffrey as the doctor since he was the oldest and age meant brains to us. He knew what he was doing. A few years later, Jeffrey moved away with his family and we never saw him again. We also stopped playing doctor. It wasn't the same without him.
Three weeks ago, I ran into him while doing my shopping with my oldest daughter. Twenty years changed a person and although he had been cute in his childhood, he was handsome and charming in adulthood. It was easy to recognize one another and his face glowed when he saw me.
"My, my, Naomie, you haven't changed! Its good to see you again after all these years!"
"Indeed it is, Jeffrey. What becomes of you?"
"Well, you probably won't be surprised but I'm a doctor now." with that he laughed. "What about you?"
"Oh, I'm just a stay-at-home-mother-and-wife. Married with two kids. This is my oldest daughter, Jessica, she's seven years old."
"Nice to meet you little one. Well, I'll let you do your thing. Come by my place someday and we can chat some more."
He handed me his card, gave me a hug and left.
It took me weeks to decide that I should go see him to catch up on good times as odd as they were and that's how I ended up here. He worked from his own personal office in his home. It was well equipped and I sat on the hospital bed while he answered the phone.
Hours passed as we talked and laughed. Eventually he decided to let me tour the rest of the house. It was large and didn't surprise me. When he showed me his room, it left me stunned somewhat. It was the room he had always described that he'd one day have. I walked in and sat on the bed to test the comfort of it, it was just as he'd described it as a child.
