Chapter 2 Two

2

MIRA

"How do you feel today, sir?" I smiled at the patient laying on the hospital. Her face was wrapped in white bandages, save for her eyes, nose and mouth.

She managed a smile at me. "It does not hurt as much." She informed me before casting a long glance at the door. "Do you know if my husband has visited yet?"

When I shook my head, her shoulders slumped. From her record at the foot of her bed, it had been fifteen hours since she exited the operating theater.

"I am sure he would come soon. I heard you were brought here on emergency," I tried to make her feel better.

She had been involved in a ghastly fire accident at home. From the reports I had heard, her husband was not in the country when a neighbour called the incident in.

As I checked her vitals, she asked me. "Do you think he would still want me?"

I nodded, unsheathing a needle to fill it with painkillers then injecting it into her drip pouch.

"You do not understand." She held my wrist, stopping me from moving and giving her my full attention.

"Would he still want me?" She pointed to her face, her voice panicky.

"Of course, he would." I assured her.

"What if he does not find me as pretty anymore? What if the doctors had not done a great job?" She referred to the skin graft operation she had undergone.

I flashed her a reassuring smile. "Our doctors do great at their job. Trust me, you will be fine."

She visibly relaxed, snuggling into her pillow.

The creaking sound of the door caught our attention. We watched as a fine young man waltzed in, holding a briefcase, a box of chocolates and flowers. His hair was tussled in every direction and his buttons were unevenly done.

He did not seem to care, however as he beamed at the patient. I stood out of the way so he would sit by her bed.

Worry laced his voice as he asked, "Babe. What happened?"

I realized that was her husband when I saw the wedding band on the default finger. He discarded the baggage in his grip on the bedside table to cradle her face.

The lady explained. "I had wanted to whip myself some pasta. I did not realize the gas had been turned on until I lit the lighter and it all exploded in my face. Babe, I look like a mummy now." She cried.

I quietly watched as the man kissed her bandaged forehead and brought her wailing form into his embrace.

"No, baby. You would always be my gorgeous princess. I got on the next available flight as soon as Natasha called." He told her. "I got you flowers."

The woman beamed at the bouquet of lilies and daffodils. They must be her favorite.

I watched her gosh over the pretty flowers whole her husband watched in delight. When he raised the chocolate box, I quickly intervened.

"She can't have anything yet until tomorrow, sir." I smiled sweetly. Too sweetly.

"Oh." He murmured slowly. "Sorry, sweetheart. You heard the good nurse. You will need to make do with this instead." He placed a peck on her lips.

It was these cute couple moments that almost turned me into a mushy puddle. Why would I not want something like this?

I would have loved to stay and watch the lovely husband and wife. But I had other things to do. So I dragged my feet away from my fantasy to the real world.

It was midday and apart from the cute couples from this morning, my day had just been stressful. Going from ward to ward, running in and out of emergencies and listening to the wails and cries of patients was threatening to tear my brain apart.

Do not get me wrong, I loved my job. But some days were like this. I was exhausted already and I had about five hours to go before my shift was over. I could not wait for the day to finally be over.

I trudged to Kathy's duty post at the reception to catch my breath and ask her out to lunch. I envied her. She only had to sit and not run around like me. I was almost there when another nurse called my attention.

"Doctor Einstein wants to see you immediately," she told me and hurried off.

I groaned and almost pulled my hair. "What did he want now? Did he not know it was lunch time already?"

I turned in the other direction and dragged myself to the doctor's office. Straightening my blue scrub, I looked myself over before knocking on his door. I heard a muffled answer and entered.

"Good day, Doc," I greeted and stood by his desk.

He was squinting through his thin framed glasses, studying a file when he replied.

"Good day, Nurse Mira. You can sit down," he pointed to the chair in front of me.

When I did, he continued. "There is a new patient I want to put in your care." He paused to see my reaction before going on.

"He suffers from a severe case of depression and has attempted to take his life severally. I need you to take care of him too. Watch out for him and make sure he takes his medications dutifully."

I nodded, letting the instructions sink him.

"Help him recover." He summarized. "I think you would do great with this. And that was why I called you up."

"Yes, Doctor," I replied and collected the file he held out to me.

"Do not disappoint," he dismissed me.

I stood up, holding the file to my chest. "When did I ever?" I grinned confidently, then left his office.

I read the file as I walked. It was a skill I had learnt not to bump into anyone as I did.

James Carter

Twenty seven

Ward 11. This was a special ward. Only VIP patients were admitted in this ward.

The details went on but I picked out the ones I felt were necessary at the moment.

I got to Ward 11 and opened the door to find a single patient laying on the only bed in the spacious room. He seemed to be peacefully asleep.

I walked up to him to get a closer look. My eyes traveled up the hospital gown he wore to his face.

I took a sharp intake of breath. His lashes lay lazily below his thick brows. His chiseled jaw looked like it could cut right through glass.

My eyes lingered on his lips, those slightly parted pink bows. I found myself wondering what colour his eyes would be.

My fingers itched to graze the brown mane on his head. To put them in place, as I always did mine.

I let out the breath I did not know I was still holding.

Could this be my Christmas gift? I did not mind having this one for Christmas.