Epilogue
Lila packedher stethoscope and blood pressure cuff in her bag and zipped it, before slinging it over her shoulder. She pushed out of the tent flap to find three children sitting around Sawyer’s feet, as he told them a story in Arabic. He lifted his hands into the air to illustrate what he was saying, the children’s eyes wide with delight. He stomped around like a giant and shook an invisible belly.
Lila adjusted the strap of her bag higher onto her shoulder and brushed her hair behind her ear. Another doctor friend from Dubai, followed out of the tent and patted Lila’s shoulder, before heading back to her hotel for the night. Lila and the other doctors had been seeing patients since early that morning and would start again the next day. Lila only wished she had more time to help the refugee camp on the Greek island, before she needed to be back in New York for her new residency requirements.
Sawyer handed out candy from his pockets as the kids scattered back to their parents. He’d signed up as a volunteer alongside the doctors and helped with triage in the field hospital – making use of both his language and certified EMT skills that Lila had recently learned about. Sawyer still had secrets up his sleeve, and Lila enjoyed how he doled them out on an as-needed basis, always finding new ways to surprise her. The biggest surprise of all though, was when he had given her a ring – delighted, she had accepted without a second thought.
She reached for his hand and he kissed her, as they walked through the camp together. Lila always wished she could do more for the people here, but she was excited to join the team of doctors who rotated into the camp throughout the year to take care of the residents. They all hoped to not see the same face twice, as the residents were moved out and resettled in safer communities across Europe.
“I have a surprise for you,” Lila squeezed his hand.
“Another one?”
“I pushed back my return date,” she said. “By a week.”
“Oh?” Sawyer asked.
Lila nodded. “Thought we could make a pitstop in Portugal on the way back to New York. I didn’t pack a bikini. But tops can be optional on the beaches, you know.”
“Ms. Morgan, you scandalize me,” Sawyer replied.
“Someone has to loosen you up,” Lila smiled.
“It’s a good thing you came along.” He kissed her temple, thankful with all of his heart to have this incredible woman in his life.
