I had taken the necessary documents I was looking for yet I was still here. Every single thing in this office represented him and I wanted to have a feel everything that belonged to him.Touching his stuff would be indirectly touching him and that was satisfactory to me.
I roamed in the office holding some papers, clippers and other stationery. I then moved to his seat and saw his white coat lying peacefully on it. Looking at the door to make sure someone wasn't coming,I gently took the coat that was hang on the chair and inhaled it.The sweet and soothing smell that passed through my nostrils reminded me of when I was in his embrace at the elevator. I reminisced in that moment which made me smile subconsciously. Oh Leonard,why did you have to have a girlfriend? Why couldn't you be into men like the way I was.Sighing in sadness, I placed the coat to it's original position, making sure it's owner wouldn't notice that his coat had been touched and violated.
Ten minutes had passed with me making an encounter with almost half of the things in the office. I headed to door deciding to finally leave when something caught my eye. It was a book on the upper shelf that looked familiar.I walked to the book shelf and upon reaching it,I stood on my toes to reach for the book since the shelf was taller than me. Standing on my toes,I still couldn't take the book plus I was no ballerina so standing on my toes for long was difficult and painful.
With another approach,I jumped, hoping to get the book but I failed again. I jumped again and again till I began to feel tired. How come his shelf was more than my height? Mine was at my shoulder level and who the hell still reads books even when he already has so much knowledge.No wonder he was the son of the president.
Feeling frustrated,I decided to climb the shelf this time to take the book. That was my last resort now. Preparing myself, I placed my right foot on the lower shelf where there was a little gap between some books and raised myself for the next climb. I climbed the next shelf and my body stiffened when I heard a creak. Shoot,I should have known.It seemed the structure was weak and couldn't withstand my weight or the load that was on it. Looking at the book which was within my arms reach and deciding to take it at all cost,I stretched my arm and finally grabbed the book. Smiling proudly,I looked at the book and realized it was the coursebook in neuroanatomy that I had given to Leonard a week after I arrived here for the first time in my life as a surgical resident. We had an argument in neuroanatomy and I had given him this book to prove I was right. I shook my head remembering how we used to be rivals when we were young. What changed?How did I change from being wary of him to actually loving him? Things really do change and I could testify to that.
I was about to descend when the second shelf from the bottom of the book shelf broke. My heart leapt in alarm and subconsciously,I held the second shelf from the top for assistance. Unfortunately for me,the structure was weak and couldn't withstand my weight therefore forwardly coming down. With no time to think,I pulled myself off the shelf and fell on my back. As if the pain I had received wasn't enough,I saw the book shelf falling directly towards me and knowing I wouldn't be able to save myself in time,I braced myself for the impact that was about to land on me and could only pray it wasn't going to be painful as it looked.
I flinched in pain as I lied on the ground with a heavy structure on me with books scattered everywhere. It had been ten minutes now and I still couldn't move an inch. I was completely stuck.
Fear and anxiety had colonized my mind as I thought of Leonard. Half an hour had passed since I entered his office which meant,he would be coming back soon. What was I going to do if he saw like this. That would be the most embarrassing thing that would ever happen to me. No,I wasn't going to let that happen. I really had to do something. Heaven helped those who helped themselves. Putting in more effort and strength again,I raised myself but nothing moved. The shelf had really pinned me down under it and only an external force could make a difference. Tears started to slow down my face as I imagined the scene at which Leonard saw me in this state. The expression that would be on his face. The thoughts that would be running in his head and how he would think of me now onwards.
As if my worst nightmares had come to pass,my blood froze when I saw the door knob turn. Was this it? My heart started to beat faster and louder as I stared keenly at the door. Invisible sweats appeared on my face as I prayed to God to just crack the ground open for it to swallow me. Atleast that would be better than letting your crush see you in this ridiculous position.
The door finally pushed open and my heart stopped when I saw a figure enter.
Wait was that....
My heart continued beating and I realeased a huge sigh of relief when I realized who had entered.
Carissa Stones,my savior that always came to my rescue was finally brought by the Good Lord. He has answered my prayers and saved me from a lifetime of embarrassment.
"Christ Chris, what are you doing there!?"she exclaimed looking at me as if she had seen a ghost.
"What happened?How did you get there?"She questioned again which made me frown. Had she become blind or she hadn't seen that I needed some help here.
"Would you quit the interrogation and come get this thing off me?"
She quickly walked to me and with some few difficulty, finally pulled the heavy thing off me.
"Jeez, that thing is heavy."she exclaimed which made me roll my eyes as I stood up from the ground. "You don't think I know."
"Hey, attitude please,I just saved you from eternal embarrassment.A thank you wouldn't hurt will it?."she asked rhetorically, a little offended.