Page 34 of Ashes

After renewing his prescription and signing off on his discharge, I spent the last thirty minutes of my scheduled shift with Marissa, hearing about her patients and signing off on anything she needed. Then I caught up on my notes since I’d been off work yesterday.

It was already past midnight when I finally left the hospital.

During the entire ride back to the house, I couldn’t shake how unsettled the interaction with my last patient left me. Patients who flirted weren’t uncommon, but this one felt different.

Especially with his insistence on discussing my marriage.

My fingers started drumming over my steering wheel before I realized it. I didn’t know how long I’d been driving until the GPS on my phone directed me to take a right onto the street that led to Jamal’s.

The gates swung open as I drove toward them, recognizing my license plate.

Guess that’s why Kai texted me earlier this afternoon asking for a picture of it.

I still couldn’t believe this was my new reality. Living in a mansion, married to a stranger, and in the process inheriting two roommates—one who I’d only met once, if you could call that a meeting.

It was almost one in the morning when I finally parkedmy car at the side of the driveway and made my way to the front door. Right before I left to get ready for my shift, Kai had asked to take my fingerprints and showed me how to use the device.

Should be easy enough.

I placed my thumb on the screen, waiting for it to unlock.

Error. Unrecognizable fingerprints.The screen read, so I tried again.

I was almost about to call for someone when it finally clicked open. I stepped inside to find the living room and kitchen empty. Not that I expected anyone to be up at this time, but for some reason, I just assumed they were night owls.

I placed my shoes to the side in the entryway and fought a yawn. I was so tired and just wanted to crash into my bed, but my stomach growled at that same moment, reminding me that it had been a while since I last ate.

I walked into the kitchen and dropped my purse on the counter. The remnant smell of food hit my nose and I spotted a plate sitting on the counter next to the stove. I made my way over to find my name written on it and was about to unwrap it when I heard a thud coming from upstairs.

What is that?

I waited for more, but everything went quiet again. Thinking my mind played tricks on me, I picked up theplate and marched over to the microwave when I heard someone yelling, “Mama? Baba?”

Suddenly, I was out of the kitchen and halfway up the stairs.

“Mama? Baba?Finkoum?” He sounded so scared.

I followed the sound of his voice, guiding me closer and down the hallway. I’d never explored this side of the hallway, my room being on the right, but I knew his bedroom was somewhere toward the other end.

Noticing a door ajar at the very end, I walked faster toward it.

A cry echoed and I stilled, unaware of what I would be walking into. Walking into his bedroom was probably a bad idea, but it was a bad idea I wanted to do.

I tentatively pushed the door farther open.

Nothing could have prepared me for what I found.

His room was dark, but the moonlight streaming from his window highlighted his body. Jamal was on his side on top of his dark sheets, his hands rigidly clutching at the fabric in front of him.

I couldn’t see his face from my viewpoint, so I approached the side of his bed and finally saw his expression. It was contorted in pain and a whimper of agony left his lips, sweat covering his forehead.

Every inch of him was taut and another anguished cry tore from his throat as he gripped the sheets even tighter.

My heart clenched at the sight, the urge to comfort him growing stronger.

I kneeled next to his bed. “Jamal,” I whispered gently. “Jamal, it’s me, Sienna. You’re safe. I’m right here.”

I tried his name louder this time, but he was still in a deep slumber. His breathing was shallow, his chest rising and falling faster. My mind was screaming at me to do one thing while my heart was pounding furiously, telling me another.