Part One
"See ya, Dr. Legs!"
Kim barely managed a wave to the young girl at the high school reception. She was exhausted, physically and mentally, from a shift at the hospital spent covering the ER and dealing with everything the troubled inhabitants of San Francisco had to throw at her, followed by an evening counselling young people at the local high school's Lesbian and Gay Alliance.
But as she left the school and stepped out into the balmy spring air, Kim felt refreshed and alive again. While her commitments could feel like a prison sometimes, however much she enjoyed them, the busy streets of San Francisco made Kim feel like a bird, flying free without a thought for anyone else. She'd been here ten months, and it really did feel like home now. She'd settled into a genuine routine, noticeable only by her crankiness when it was disrupted, and she had her life back. She owned it now, and was determined to live it. She seemed to have spent half her life lurching from heartbreak to heartbreak, and it was only now that she felt able to direct it. And that felt good.
As she approached her apartment building, she grinned in spite of herself. This had to be her favorite bit of the entire city. With bars and nightlife ten minutes walk north and a quite park, perfect for reflection and peace, fifteen minutes west, it was everything she'd ever wanted from a home. The perfect mix of everything that made her who she was.
Although she had a reputation as something of an action, thrill-seeking girl, Kim needed her downtime as much as anyone, and she treasured it, guarding it jealously against the world. Lately, she'd taken to walking down to the park and writing poetry. Nothing spectacular, just words on a page, exactly as she wanted them to be.
She pushed the front door of her building open, and waved to Joel the doorman as she swept past to the elevator. As he did every evening, he shouted after her, "Looking good, Dr. Legs". And she replied, as always, "Don't go after what you'll never get, Joel". It was just another part of a routine that made her feel settled.
Getting onto the elevator, she pushed the button for the top floor. Yet another thing to love about this city. Her top-level apartment gave her some stunning views of San Francisco, whatever the time of day. One of her most favorite activities was occasionally making the effort to get up early and watching the sunrise over the city. Bliss.
She turned the key in the lock and walked into the apartment, the peace and tranquillity washing over her, dissolving the stresses and worries of the day. Walking over to her stereo, she flicked the CD player on, and her classical compilation began to play, the relaxing music soothing Kim as she moved around the apartment, putting her things away and tidying up here and there. A magazine into the paper rack, a journal into the cupboard, where it could safely be ignored, that morning's breakfast paraphernalia into the dishwasher, and her dirty clothes into the laundry basket by the entrance to her bedroom.
She walked over to her bathroom, softly humming along with the music that played on in the background. Divesting herself of what clothing remained, she stepped into the shower and turned it on, letting the warm water wash away the remains of a tiring day. As she stood there shampooing her hair, she felt the stresses of the day work their way out of her body. She'd managed to develop this particular technique with some help from a friend. Stand in the shower, or indeed anywhere else, and stretch right out, almost physically moving the strains of the day along her limbs and out through her fingertips, off into the big wide somewhere.
It still needed something, though. She could never quite manage to purge herself of everything; somehow, there was always a tiny spot left that just would not budge. But for now, she thought, this was perfection. A sunny San Francisco, summer just beginning to beckon round the corner......as she rinsed her hair under the stream, she remembered why she loved this particular time of year so much...it was a new life, another chance to aim high and achieve higher.
Her musings were interrupted by the harsh buzz of her intercom. Without even bothering to slip on a robe, she dashed over to her door. Pressing the button down, she said sharply "Legaspi".
"Hey, Dr. Legs!" It was Joel. "I've got FedEx here for ya."
"OK Joel, I'll just slip something on. Give me a minute."
Before she had chance to switch the connection off, Joel quipped, "That's not necessary, Dr K."
"Joel..." Kim's voice held a warning tone, and Joel backed off, turning his desk intercom off.
Kim walked over to her closet and pulled out a blue shirt and black pair of pants. She collected a pair of pumps from her shoe rack by the door and pulled her door open, making quickly for the elevator. She was vaguely irritated at having been interrupted, and also curious to find out what FedEx had to offer. Last fall, she'd spent half her time signing for packages. After having left Chicago somewhat abruptly, she'd left a lot of her stuff behind accidentally. Items of clothing, ornaments and such - but the new owners of her house had very kindly sent it all on. Surely, she thought, there can't be anything else?
Walking into the lobby, she saw the FedEx guy sitting waiting, holding a cardboard box that looked vaguely familiar, although Kim wasn't entirely sure where from. She walked over to where he was sitting, and stopped.
He jumped up, asking "Dr. Kimberley Legaspi?"
"Yeah, that's me." Kim pointed towards the white box he was holding and inquired, "Where's this from?"
"I dunno. Chicago, I think. You used to live there, right?" Kim nodded. "Anyway, just sign here. Thanks, have a nice day". He turned and walked out the door, leaving a puzzled Dr. Legaspi holding a brown cardboard box.
Eventually, her brain caught up, and she turned the box over to check the return address. It simply said "305 Temple Street, Chicago, IL", and there was a note scrawled underneath - "I think this is the last of it." She recognised the handwriting of Paula, the woman who'd bought her house last fall.
All of a sudden, the realisation hit Kim, and her jaw dropped.
She'd remembered.
back to fanfiction.... forward to part 2....