This was the sixth Doctor’s surgery he was visiting that week. Harold had long ago resigned himself to the fact he had a problem. That he savoured the pleasure of sitting around, observing the infirm. Usually after a couple of hours of avoiding the receptionist’s gaze, they would approach him and the game was up. This surgery had a male receptionist. Harold stared at the TV watching a sexual health promo with disdain. Contrived, he thought, compared to the others he had seen.
“Harold”. He jumped as the receptionist called his name, ever so soft, maybe even a little sympathetic. “It’s time to go now”.
On the footpath outside Harold made up his mind, again, to stop this. After all, he couldn’t possibly track down all his former patients. Yet two years after being struck off he still hadn’t kicked the habit of trying.
• Tola Ositelu was born in South-East London, 1981 to Nigerian and Ghanaian parents. She studied law at university and is currently a trainee solicitor within a local government organisation in North London. Away from the day job she can be found organising, hosting and singing at live music events, seeing as much of the world as her annual leave will allow her, trying to make her mark in the world of music and literary freelance journalism, watching plays and attending various musical and literary events across London. www.tolitasmusings.blogspot.com
