When fate plays its hand

The doctor replied. “As they said, “A muscle injury takes 100 days to heal. There’s no fracture, but your muscles have been strained. The swelling’s gone down, but the muscle fibers and connective tissue are still recovering It’s a slow process, and it will take some time.”

Paul thought momentarily before asking. “Do you think traditional medicine would help?”

“If that’s available, it could help, but it’s supplementary. Rest is still the most important part of her

recovery

After leaving the hospital, Paul suddenly said, “Come with me.” This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - ©.

Miranda raised an eyebrow in confusion.

20 minutes later, the car pulled over to the side of the road. He led her across the street and down a narrow alley. They twisted and turned through the path until they reached a small, charming health clinic.

“Holistic Health Clinic?” Miranda looked up at the sign hanging above the door. It was made of dark, polished wood and gleaming in the light.

Paul stepped into the clinic as if he were a regular. “Mr. Lockhart?” When there was no answer, he called out again, “Mr. Lockhart, are you in there?”

“Okay. Coming.”

The door curtain was pulled back, and an elderly man stepped out from the back room. His hair was white, and his long beard hung down to his chest. He wore a padded coat and an apron tied around his waist, which looked like a w old sage from a TV sitcom.

“You rascal, how long has it been since you last visited? You walk in here making all that racket. I could hear you from the backyard! Hold on a second… You’re not alone today, huh? You brought a lady with you?

The elderly man’s eyes brightened with interest.

Paul quickly introduced them. That was when Miranda learned the elderly man’s name was Alaric Lockhart, and he was already 90 years old.

After retiring with honors from the Municipal Healing Center, he couldn’t sit still and opened his own health clinic in the alley. Getting an appointment there was like striking gold.

He only saw patients three days a week and only in the mornings. But it was already 2:00 pm, and he had stopped taking patients for the day, which explained the silence. If they had come in the morning, the entire alley would have been packed with people.

“Where does it hurt, Miss?”

Miranda was a bit surprised. “How did you know it was me? Why not Dr. Jefferson?”

Alaric shot him a glance. “Hah! He’d never come to me. Let me tell you a secret–he’s scared of needles.”

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“He continued, “The minute he sees me with a needle in hand, he bolts. No way he’d come to me willingly

for a shot.”

Miranda blinked in disbelief. “Dr. Jefferson, you’re afraid of needles?”

Paul cleared his throat, and it was clear he wouldn’t answer directly.

She was rendered speechless.

To cover up the awkwardness, he quickly changed the subject. “She sprained her ankle a week ago. The swelling’s gone down, but there’s still some tenderness when applying pressure. Could you take a look?”

Alaric nodded and gestured to a nearby wooden chair. “Come on, take a seat. Put your foot up here. Let me have a look.”

Miranda sat down and rolled up her pant leg. He pressed on a few spots, then asked, “Does that hurt?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s fine.”

He applied pressure to a few more areas. “How about now?”

“A little,” Miranda admitted.

Alaric motioned for her to extend her hand and began taking her pulse. He stroked his long beard and frowned in thought.

After a moment, he said, “Your pulse seems normal. Nothing to be concerned about. It looks like a minor injury that’s mostly superficial. The tenderness in your ankle is typical, I’d recommend acupuncture, and it should help with the discomfort.”

Miranda had never had acupuncture before and had only seen it on TV. She bit her lip and asked cautiously, “Does it hurt?”

“Don’t worry. It doesn’t,” Alaric assured her.

She looked skeptical.

Paul quickly added, “Don’t worry. It doesn’t hurt.”

“Dr. Jefferson, have you ever had it done?”

He hesitated before admitting. “No.”

Miranda raised an eyebrow. “Then, how can you say it doesn’t hurt?”

Paul was left speechless, and Alaric chuckled at their exchange.