6 #In love with my Neighbor

I sighed as I packed my things. The patient took longer than I expected. Jane must be waiting for me. I hurriedly gathered my belongings, feeling guilty for keeping Jane waiting as I quickly made my way to my office, only to see Jane with her eyes closed, lying comfortably on my chair. I'm not surprised to see her fast asleep, with her delivery date coming close and no one by her side looking for her or taking care of her. I couldn't help but feel a pang of concern for Jane's well-being. It was clear that she needed someone to support her during this crucial time. It’s already very tough for a woman to give birth to a life, but in Jane’s case, things are intense. Jane's situation is compounded by the fact that she is facing this challenging time alone.

She has to do everything on her own with no one around to care for her. I do my best to help her, but Jane is such an independent woman. She never asks for anyone’s help, even when needed, and that’s what worries me the most. Even more when she is not around me, like times when I’m at work or when she is alone at her home, mostly at night, and I don’t know why, but around Jane, I feel so protective, like she is someone too precious to me, but the thing is, I can’t even tell Jane about how I feel about her. Jane has already faced so much in her life. I don’t want to burden her more at the cost of ruining our friendship with my stupidity.

"Jane," I mumbled, trying to wake her up.

"Let me sleep," she mumbled in her sleep. A few more minutes, Jared."

'Jared's name is enough for me to stop thinking about anything else. Jane loves the person so much that she can let no one take their place in her life.

Taking a deep breath and controlling the emotions in my heart, I try to wake her up again. "Jane, it's Brandon. Get up....,."

The name stuck in her mind because she opened it quickly, scanning her surroundings from left to right. Shaking her head, she stands up but loses her balance. I quickly wrapped my arms around her waist to avoid her falling to the floor.

"You okay?" She nodded her head. "Let me see. I gently guided her towards a nearby chair and knelt down to examine her. I checked, noticing that her feet were very swollen. I touched her feet, and she cried in pain.

"I’m okay, Brandon. Jane said, hiding her pain with a smile.

I could see the discomfort in her eyes, despite her attempt to hide it. "No, you’re not. Why didn’t you say anything about your feet earlier? I could have done something. It won’t be so bad."

"It’s nothing; I look fine," she added, trying to stand up again but seized in pain in her attempt. I quickly reached out to support her and gently guided her back into a sitting position. "I can see that," I replied, helping her stand, but her face looked hurt with every step she took. I don’t think she will reach the parking lot in so much pain. It’s surprising how she came here for her check-up. "Can you walk? I’m both your doctor and a friend. You can share your pain with me. Now say, Do you want me to carry you? I asked, waiting for her answer. I could see the hesitation in her eyes as she considered my offer, but she nodded her head quietly at last.

I wrapped my arms around her waist, with my other hand holding her shoulder and carrying her. Jane’s head rests just a bit above my heart. It’s just a simple act of kindness, but being so close to her makes my heart pound like a teenager. As I carried her, I couldn't help but notice the vulnerability in her eyes, reminding me of the trust she had placed in me. The weight of her body against mine felt strangely comforting, and I couldn't help but wonder if our friendship could evolve into something more. As we continued walking, I couldn't shake off the thought of how effortlessly we fit together. It was as if our bodies were made to be intertwined, igniting a spark of desire within me that I had never felt before. It was a feeling that I was both excited and scared to explore.

I don't know why, but I hope we met in normal circumstances. Things would have been so different; the clumsiness and the hesitation of not trying to express the way I feel about her wouldn’t have existed if we had met like any other people, but I am happy to meet someone like Jane.

Jane has changed little since the first time I met her. The first time I met Jane, there was despair in her eyes—pain that was fighting its way out in the form of emotions—but things change a bit as time passes; the hollowness still exists.

But despite the lingering hollowness, Jane's resilience and strength have gradually emerged. Her eyes now hold a glimmer of hope, and her emotions have transformed into a quiet determination to overcome her pain. It is both inspiring and heartwarming to witness her growth and see the positive impact she has had on my own life. And I wish to see her happy again and live her life to the fullest. Maybe her child will bring her happiness and her smile back. I just hope to see her happy all her life.