"The homophobic doctor who’s actually in the closet?"
"She looks like a decent human. How hard was it to actually be one?"
Kelsie strutted into the hospital the following morning to disgusted glances and snide remarks being thrown her way.
Gathered at the reception were Holly and some of those who often defended Kelsie.
Watching her walk into her office without saying a word to anyone, they exhaled heavily and turned their attention back to their phones, reading the article sprawled across it again.
"Is this really true?"
"This article was written by Maria Santos and she already made a name for herself for always telling the their. If she really wrote this, then she must’ve gotten the information from a reliable source."
"I just can’t believe Dr. Sutton is into.... I mean, doesn’t she have a boyfriend? We all know she does. How could she be into women when she has a boyfriend?"
"I hear there’s something rich folks do. To dispel gay rumors, they pay someone to pose as their partners. So while the public sees them together and thinks they’re having a normal relationship, they continue loving who they want away from the public’s eyes."
"And so? Do you really think Dr. Sutton is gay? That she paid that man to act like her boyfriend so we won’t figure out?"
"Don’t be absurd. She has a child. How could she have a child if she has never been with a man?"
"You all talk like children. Some people don’t want their lineage to end, so they procreate with someone with good genes. She must’ve done the same to continue her family’s lineage."
"Everyone, stop spouting nonsense, will you? Holly’s the closest to Dr. Sutton. Surely, she’d know the truth."
In an instant, everyone whipped their eyes towards a silent and distracted Holly.
When she suddenly saw them looking at her, she leaned away from the wall, scratching the back of her head in confusion.
"You’re close with Dr. Sutton. Has she ever tried to hit on you?" Asked the brunette nurse behind the desk.
Holly quickly huffed, waving a finger at them, "I don’t care if Maria Santos has a record for telling the truth because I know for sure she’s lying."
"Even if she’s into women, it’s honestly no one’s business. And I’ve never for once seen Dr. Sutton say anything about gay people. Whoever Maria Santos’ source is just wants to smear Dr. Sutton’s pristine reputation."
A passing resident scoffed irritably hearing her, "I know you like her so much, but it’s time to face reality."
"Everything Maria Santos has written, even the ones we thought were absurd, all ended up to be true."
"You’ve only known Dr. Sutton for six months and you only see each other at work. A withdrawn person like her would have no problem keeping such a big issue away from you."
At this, those with Holly couldn’t help agreeing with a deep sigh.
"You’re right. If she didn’t come in with her son that day, we never would’ve know she had a child."
"We only know what she wants us to know. It’s also likely what you know about her is what she wants you to."
Holly really didn’t know what to say to this as she knew they were right.
She was still deliberating when a stern voice came from behind them.
"What is this? There’s plenty of time to gossip after work, but while you’re at work, you work!"
Hearing Mia Meyer’s voice, the group dissolved in an instant.
As they disappeared, Mia turned and headed towards Kelsie’s office.
However, she had just raised her hand to knock when the door was suddenly pulled open and she came face-to-face with Kelsie.
She then took a step backward, making space for Kelsie to step out of her office.
"Dr. Sutton. I see... you’re already at work. I didn’t see you come in so I thought to check up on you." Seeing the stoic look on Kelsie’s face, Mia grappled for words.
Kelsie looked unaffected. Or maybe she was just hiding how she felt.
Either way, she seemed to have come to terms with the article and didn’t want to talk about it.
The last thing she wanted to do was spoil her mood by bringing it up, so she changed her reason for coming on the spot.
Kelsie, who hadn’t checked her phone the entire morning, didn’t know what was going on.
But she knew it involved her. Which wasn’t something new. So she paid no attention to it and just mummed in response, "Oh, thank you."
Then she walked past Mia, but she had just taken three steps forward when she paused and turned towards her again.
"I have to see Jack Adler. He’s my patient now, just incase you were wondering."
Mia didn’t know when she laughed.
Kelsie was actually talking instead of just walking away?
The Kelsie she knew would leave without an explanation.
"When you leave , I reckon you have something important to do, so I don’t really pick offense with it."
Kelsie exhaled in relief, "I know, right? That is common knowlege. But last night, my kids dared me to explain myself more today. Failure to do so and I will have to go on this blinddate."
"Oh." Mia was rendered speechless. "They know what a date is. Aren’t they like 6 years old?"
Kelsie forced on an awkward smile, "Kids these days know so much. I’ll be going now."
Mia hummed and began walking away while Kelsie got into the elevator and headed up.
But the moment the elevator opened, she came face-to-face with a stone-faced Kelvin Reynolds.
Calvin Reynolds walked beside him and they had an entire entourage of doctors with them.
Kelvin was the first to look away, saying as he walked ahead of her, "It’s a good thing you’re here, Dr. Sutton. I was just about to ask for you."
Though she didn’t know what he meant by that, Kelsie said nothing in reply and quietly followed behind them.
Inside the ward, Jack was playing chess with Daniel when the door opened.