As she worked on the patient’s mouth, the young woman seemed cheerful, though a bit tired. Soon, the nurse from reception came in and spoke to Dr. Lily Peterson.
— Are you heading out soon? Or will you be a while? It’s been a rough day.
The dentist glanced back at her colleague, offering a weary smile before replying:
— Yeah, I’m almost done, — she added with a mysterious wink to the nurse. Mark noticed it. What was that about?
— Don’t worry, no one will know. I’ve got your back if anything comes up, — the nurse assured her.
— I’ll hold you to that, — Lily chuckled. She peeled off her gloves, tossed them away, and turned to the patient:
— That’s it for today. You should feel some relief now. If it starts hurting again tonight, take a painkiller. I’ll write down a few options you can get. But it should be fine, — she walked over to the desk and began jotting something down. — And honestly, there’s a lot of work to be done in there. You’ve got a few small cavities in other teeth, and some tartar needs to be removed. Make sure you come back. First, we’ll place a permanent filling on the tooth I cleaned today, and then we’ll tackle the rest. Come see us in two days.
Mark got up from the chair and approached the dentist. Out of habit, he asked:
— Tell me, what time works for you? When should I come in on Wednesday? — The two women exchanged a glance, clearly sharing some unspoken thought that Mark couldn’t quite grasp. Then the dentist checked a notebook and replied:
— Ah… You know… How about 4 PM? Does that work? Shall I book you in?
— Yes, that’s fine.
— Can I have your name, please?
— Mark Shulak.
— Alright, — she wrote it down. — I won’t be able to see you myself, but Dr. Leonard Price will take care of everything.
Mark frowned, immediately asking:
— What? Why not you?
— Well… It’s a long story. But don’t worry, he’s a top-notch professional. Come in, and everything will be fine, — the young dentist replied, her cheeks flushing slightly.
— Well… — Mark sighed involuntarily. — Thank you so much. You… You’ve helped more than you can imagine. Where do I settle the bill?
— You’re welcome, — she smiled wider, her beauty even more striking. — I’ll write everything up now, and my colleague will take care of the payment. Over there, please, — she gestured toward the exit. She quickly filled out another form and handed it to the patient along with a slip of paper listing the medications.
The nurse led him to her desk, processed the payment, and politely said goodbye. Mark glanced back at the office he surprisingly didn’t want to leave. Unbelievable! For the first time in his life, a visit to the dentist felt like this. Not at all like torture. Quite the opposite, in fact. He could hardly believe it!
Had he just grown up? Or was it all because of that lovely woman in the white coat? Ugh… Maybe living without a woman in his life had left its mark. Now he felt ready to pounce on just about any attractive lady. Though, no. Not just anyone. There were plenty of beautiful women out there, but there was something special about this one. She’d managed to instill a sense of calm in his heart so effortlessly. Her confidence and kind demeanor had made all the difference. He found himself wanting to spend more time with her.
As he took the papers from her, he noticed there was no ring on her finger, just like on his. Perfect! His heart skipped a beat. A strange excitement stirred in him as he said goodbye to the sweet dentist. Why was that? Maybe because he didn’t want to leave her side?
Mark stepped outside and walked to his car but didn’t rush to get in and drive off. He stood there, pretending to check something on his phone. What if she came out? He decided he couldn’t just leave without offering to give her a ride home. Why not? He was itching to get to know her better. An old, tried-and-true approach would do the trick.
About ten minutes later, Dr. Lily Peterson emerged from the clinic. Mark looked up, taking in her appearance with keen interest. She was no longer in her medical coat but dressed in light, tailored pants and a pretty pink blouse with short sleeves. Her thick, dark brown hair, reaching midway down her shoulders, was tied up in a voluminous ponytail, held by an elegant clip that glinted under the evening rays of the summer sun. She wore wedge sandals with a high heel.
He couldn’t help but admire how much he liked her in this outfit too. And her walk—fantastic. Not the exaggerated, model-like strut of someone like Sasha, but… graceful, confident. Her entire demeanor exuded a sense of calm, balance, and intelligence. She looked about 23, but… probably older, considering she’d already trained as a dentist.
Lily spotted Mark, gave him a sweet smile, and started walking in the opposite direction. Snapping out of his thoughts, he quickly approached her and called out:
— Wait up, — he said with a slightly awkward smile, waving a hand.
— Yes, is there something else? I’m all ears, — she replied, looking at him with a curious expression.
Uh-oh… Now what? This was a disaster! Why was he so nervous, like some teenage boy? What should he say? Pretend he just wanted to help out of gratitude, or… be upfront and show that he was drawn to her as a woman?
— Dr. Peterson, I noticed you don’t have a car. I can give you a lift home if you’re okay with it, — somehow, he managed to say it relatively calmly, with a cheerful tone. The young woman blushed instantly. So cute…
— Oh… Thank you, but I walk. I live really close by. No need for a ride. It’s just a 15-minute walk, — she replied, pointing in the direction of her home. Mark didn’t give up.
— Well, it’ll be even quicker by car. I heard you’ve had a tough day. Don’t worry, I don’t bite, — he grinned wider. The dentist let out a light laugh.
— Yes, it’s been a long day. But… it’s Monday, you probably know how that goes. Don’t worry about me, I’m fine. The important thing is that your tooth doesn’t hurt, or you’ll be upset with me.
— Me, upset with you? No way… You saved me, honestly. Come on, it’s no trouble, — he gestured toward his sleek car and took a step toward it, a subtle maneuver as if she’d already agreed, leaving her little room to refuse. She hesitated for a moment before saying:
— Well… alright. Thank you, — and she walked over to the car, casting an shy glance at him from head to toe. Mark could barely contain his excitement. How interesting—she was so petite, even in those high wedges. Different from Maria, who was taller. But… wow… there was something about it. Such a doll, he just wanted to scoop her up in his arms.
He opened the front passenger door for her, and Lily Peterson slid into the seat, placing her small purse on her lap. Mark got behind the wheel, a satisfied smile on his face. He started the car smoothly but didn’t ask for directions right away. On purpose. Maybe he could stretch out the ride a bit.
— I live in that tall building near the shopping center on Chopin Street. Do you know it? — his passenger asked.
— Yeah, sure. I’ll take you wherever you need to go, — he replied cheerfully, hiding his disappointment. So close? That’s no fun at all! Still, at least he’d know where this lovely woman lived.
— Thanks. How’s your tooth? Not hurting? — she asked after a moment. Mark glanced at her, happily replying:
— Amazingly, no. It’s unreal. That thing was driving me up the wall!
— I believe it. So, why have you been avoiding dentists, if you don’t mind me asking? Who scared you off? Or do you just dislike all doctors? — the dentist inquired.
— Well… it’s a long story. Goes back to childhood. I’ve got some tales… I’ll tell you sometime if you’re interested. Probably won’t have time now. You live too close, — he laughed. She did too.
— Sometime?
— Yep, I’ll be back, — Mark winked.
— You definitely should. You can’t neglect your health, — she said firmly.
A brief silence fell between them. Meanwhile, they approached the area where Lily’s building came into view. It was quite tall, standing out among the shorter buildings nearby, visible from a distance. Mark felt a pang of regret that they’d have to part ways soon. But the next moment, the situation took a dramatic turn.
A flashy SUV overtook Mark’s car at breakneck speed, surging ahead. Then it tried to cut off another vehicle, but things didn’t go as planned. The SUV misjudged the turn, clipping the oncoming car with its left fender before slamming on the brakes. The screech of tires and the grinding of metal filled the air. The SUV swerved in front of the car it had been overtaking, which then crashed into it with such force that the SUV spun sideways across the road.
Mark slammed on his brakes, stunned by how quickly everything had unfolded. His hands trembled. Lily Peterson let out a frightened gasp as the chaotic scene played out just ahead of them.
Within moments, a massive traffic jam formed on the wide boulevard. Horns blared as cars piled up, unable to move forward.
— Unbelievable! What is that driver doing?! — she exclaimed, outraged at the SUV’s recklessness. Mark barely held back a few choice words himself. He wanted to march over and knock some sense into the driver—if they were even still alive. Instead, he turned to the woman beside him and asked with concern:
— Are you okay?
— Oh… — she exhaled, visibly pale. She tried to hide how shaken she was, but it was clear. — I’m fine. Just… honestly, I got scared, — the lovely woman admitted, her voice trembling. She glanced around. Behind them, more cars had stopped, and soon Mark’s vehicle was boxed in on all sides. No way out. Great…
— Everything’s going to be okay. Don’t worry, — Mark offered an awkward smile. In that moment, he even felt a small thrill. Now she couldn’t slip away so quickly. He wanted to reach over and pat her hand to comfort her but held back. No, it was too soon. — Thanks. I… honestly, I’m terrified of things like this. Accidents. As you can see, you’re not the only one with a phobia, — the dentist confessed. Mark appreciated her openness. He smiled.
— Yeah, I guess everyone’s got their fears. But you’re clearly no coward if you had the guts to become a dentist, — he said gently, trying to lift her spirits. She laughed lightly and replied:
— You think filling cavities takes courage?
— I don’t know, doesn’t it? How does someone even become a doctor? Maybe you can tell me about it. Looks like we’re stuck here for a while, — he glanced around at the sea of cars. He decided to keep her talking, to distract her from the stress. And, well, it was a chance to get to know her better. Though… she could just get out and walk home. What was the point of sitting here when her place was so close? Ugh… It’d be a shame if she did that.