Day 3.

Three is the number of wishes granted. (Tell me your three wishes and I will gladly grant them.)

Earth is the third planet from the sun. (Saturn, the third largest object in our solar system)

On the count of three we will have a good day. (One, two, three)

The day started out wonderfully for Chris – for the first thirty minutes. Then Dr Max had a run in with one of the nurses and everything progressed downhill from there. In tears, the nurse went home and Martha was left scathing over Dr Max’s treatment of the staff. It didn’t get any better from there. Through the smiles and polite conversations with patients coming and going, the undercurrent of the surgery was thick. Chris didn’t want to think about how Eric or the other interns were coping but he was sure they were eagerly counting down the days, if not hours, before they left.

Chris wanted to strangle Dr Max with his bare hands. The man was a pompous old fool determined to make everyone's life a misery. It made Chris so mad but all he could do was calm the waters and get through the day. At lunchtime, he and those joining him, fled to the shopping centre across the road for an hour of relief. On his return, Chris found Eric in the lunchroom, his head in his arms against the table. He ignored Chris as he put his bag in his locker and Chris wondered if Eric had fallen asleep.

“Eric.” Chris whispered next to his ear, as he crouched beside him.

Eric replied with an inaudible murmur.

“Is everything fine?”

With a slight turn of his head, Eric opened an eye and glanced at Chris.

“Hey” he said.

The pounding of Chris’s heart reached his ears, as his mouth dried and his hands grew clammy. Eric affected him in such a way Chris struggled to remain in control.

“Hey, everything fine?” Chris asked surprised at how calm he sounded.

“I swear that man has it in for me.” Eric replied, turning his head back against his folded arms.

“You and everyone else today. Stacey went home in a state after Dr Max yelled at her.”

“Yeah, I heard. Will she be fine?” Chris remained crouched to decipher Eric’s muffled voice.

“Sure. Martha is on the war path so give her a wide berth.”

“Will do.”

“Two more days. At least you have that pleasure.” A sense of disappointment and awkwardness engulfed Chris and with no immediate reply from Eric, Chris stood.

Eric sat up and stretched his arms above his head. Crease marks from his shirt lined his face and his hair looked tousled. Chris glanced away before his eyes were once more drawn to Eric.

“As much as I’m looking forward to the end of Friday, the real pleasure here would be a massage. My neck is killing me.” Eric said.

Chris gave a nervous chuckle to hide his thoughts, before replying, “I’m not surprised sleeping at the table like that.”

Eric stretched a little further before dropping his arms and rolling his shoulders.

“I wish I could get a neck rub right now. God knows I need it.”

It took Chris a moment to understand what Eric was asking. With a glance at the door and ears alert, Chris replied, “Do I?”

The wide grin on Chris’s face brought laughter from Eric.

“Yes you do know how much I need my neck rubbed.”

The drumming in his ears grew louder and Chris was sure it echoed outside his body. As Eric stared up at him, Chris considered his next actions would change everything but how could Chris refuse. It was all or nothing; wasn’t that what Chris had decided.

“Well then, your wish is my command.” Chris replied.

Chris stepped behind Eric, wiping nervous palms against his pants before placing them against the back of Eric’s neck and applying pressure. Every sound within the room and beyond amplified ten fold. The beating of his heart competed with the ticking of the clock. Voices beyond the lunchroom threatened to interrupt at any moment and Chris’s shallow breath betrayed his excitement.

The collar of Eric’s shirt hindered the process and Eric lowered his head to allow Chris a better opportunity to massage the exposed skin. The palpitations in Chris’s heart threatened to reduce him to a quivering mess. Voices from the corridor grew louder and Chris reluctantly withdrew his hands.

“Better.” Chris’s voice sounded distant as he attempted to recollect his thoughts.

Eric sighed, rotated his head and turned to look at Chris.

“I wish you would do that every time I needed a massage, that was amazing.”

Chris blushed a hundred shades of red as the door to the lunchroom opened. Chris moved away and replied, “That’s your second wish, you only have one more left.”

Eric stood, stretched his arms forward as several nurses entered. Chris turned to leave when Eric murmured loud enough for Chris to hear, “I know. I’m saving that one.”

Chris didn't dare glance at Eric as he passed the women, making his way to the men's bathroom. Not until Chris stood staring at his reflection did his embarrassment mortify him. Cheeks stained red, ears on fire, eyes wide.

He knew. Chris was positive Eric knew it was him leaving the notes. Hands under the cold water, Chris washed his face, attempting to stem the heat radiating through his skin but his thoughts betrayed him. Voices once more in the corridor informed Chris his need to return to work. On his way to the reception desk, Chris saw no one and as he sat down Martha turned and asked, “He's not got to you too, has he?”

Bewildered by her question, Chris stared at Martha.

“Dr Max.”

“What? No. But I will be glad when this day is over.”

“You and me both. That vile man. I've had enough of him.” Martha hissed low for Chris’s ears only.

Focused on his job, Chris worked the remainder of the day without seeing Eric again.

“Never mind love.” Martha said as they left the building together, “Two more days to go. Make sure you ask for his telephone number. Shame to lose contact.”

Chris agreed as they departed.

It wasn't until much later that night, lying in bed in the dark, the mental images of his time with Eric played over in his head did Chris double take. It became obviously clear when Chris recalled all the other times Eric sort him out that Eric might have realised Chris was leaving the notes. From his post-it-note with 19 written on it–to the time he wanted on top, and Chris had assumed he had meant the top of his list of adoring fans. There were many occasions Chris called to mind over the last three weeks that indicated Eric had in fact been flirting with Chris.

Even the incident in the document room now seemed obvious. Eric had mentioned three out of five. He was talking about the five senses, he was sure of it. He had said he would do something about the other two. Taste and touch. Tantalising sensations coursed through Chris’s body as he remembered the document room and the night was long and the dreams vivid.

Day 2

One plus one equals you and me. Two is a wonderful number.

The two of us should have dinner together.

The two of us should go see a movie.

The two of us should live happily ever after.

When Chris woke among a tangled mess of bedding he immediately made plans to get his man. Therefore, day two’s note was as obvious as Chris could make it. With great expectations, Chris began the morning with his biggest smile, removing all memory of the horrible day before. But one should expect nothing as Chris found out during the morning. Cindy, the nurse who often hinted towards her own like for Eric, was using the photocopier in reception when Eric walked past with Dr Max. Chris stared as he passed through to the offices down the hall.

“I will get me a piece of that before he goes.” Cindy whispered in Chris’s ear.

Chris frowned at her words. “What makes you think he will be interested?”

“Please Chris, you think he would be interested in you. I don’t think so. He’s been flirting with me for weeks now. I don’t think I need to persuade him too much to come over tomorrow night after work.”

She gave Chris a sultry smile and left. As Chris watched Cindy walk away until she was out of sight, Chris realised only too well what Cindy was capable off. This left Chris wondering should he make his own move now rather than Friday as he had planned. He spent most of the day dwelling over possible scenarios he could approach Eric with regarding the notes but every time Chris saw him the courage to say or do anything vanished. At the end of the day, Chris reluctantly left falling back on his original plan with his last note.