CHAPTER 6 : FIGHTING
789 Words
“Mum, I don’t want to have the surgery!” an 18-year-old girl cried that morning as I passed through the ward on my routine rounds.
Her name was Mira. Eighteen years old. Brain malfunction. The file in my hand suddenly felt heavier.
I stopped when I saw her desperately grabbing her mother’s hand.
“Mum, I’m scared,” she whispered, voice breaking. “What if I don’t survive it?”
The surgery was scheduled for that very morning.
“Hi, Mira,” I said brightly, pushing the medicine trolley into the room with a smile.
She quickly wiped her tears.
“Hi,” she replied, trying to sound brave.
“You don’t have to pretend or be strong with me,” I said playfully, sitting on the edge of her bed. “I’m not even the nurse in charge of you.”
She gave a small smile.
The mother quietly left the room, tears in her eyes.
“I heard you’re going for surgery today,” I said gently.
She nodded, avoiding my eyes.
“I know you’re scared,” I continued softly.
She finally looked at me.
“It’s okay to be scared. Being scared doesn’t mean you’re weak.”
“I’m really scared, Nurse,” she admitted, tears slipping again.
“I know. And that’s okay.”
“What if I don’t come out of that room?” she cried. “What if I don’t survive?”
I reached over and gently held her hand that was clutching the blanket so tightly.
“Mira, look at me,” I said. “Yes, there’s risk… but that’s exactly why you have to be strong. You can conquer this fear for your family… for your mum. You just have to decide to be stronger than the fear. Think about coming out and seeing your mum again.”
She became a little calmer.
“It’s okay. I know you can do it. Fighting!”
She laughed through her tears. “You watch K-dramas?”
I nodded, smiling. “I do.”
“I’m strong now,” she said, wiping her face. “I can do it… Fighting!”
“Fighting!” I replied.
We both laughed.
“I also heard one of the best doctors from abroad is operating on you, so just think of it as taking a long nap and waking up soon.”
She nodded, a spark of amusement in her eyes. “I know Mr. Vincent.”
I smiled.
“You’re really strong, aren’t you?” she asked.
I shook my head playfully.
She laughed again.
I leaned closer to her and whispered, “Don’t tell this to anyone.”
She nodded, curious.
“I might be a nurse, but I’m secretly terrified of needles going into my own body.”
She burst out laughing. “But you pierce them into other people!”
“I know, it’s weird, right? Don’t tell anyone — especially not the popular Mr. Vincent,” I whispered.
She laughed harder.
He would really think I don’t belong here if he heard that, I thought to myself.
“It’s almost time for your surgery. I have to go now,” I said, still smiling.
She nodded and suddenly hugged me tight.
I patted her back, trying my hardest to hold back my own tears. When I pulled away, I turned quickly so she wouldn’t see them.
My eyes were already blurring.
That’s when I noticed Mr. Vincent standing at the door.
I had no idea how long he had been there.
He was looking straight at me, like he wanted to say something.
His eyes… those same warm eyes that didn’t match the cold man everyone feared.
I lowered my head and quickly walked past him.
“Nurse Juliet!” Mira called.
I stopped, quickly wiping my tears before turning back with a smile.
“After this is over, you’ll come back so we can gossip about some K-dramas, okay?” she said, smiling brightly.
I nodded, but the tears were already blurring my vision again.
I slowly walked out of the room.
“Thank you, Nurse,” Mira’s mum said, voice thick with emotion.
I nodded and kept walking.
I was happy I could help someone overcome their fear.
I had really started my dream job — helping others face what they’re afraid of, even when I still couldn’t face my own.
Then I saw Mira being slowly wheeled out of her room toward the operating theatre.
She looked at me and gave me one last brave smile.
What if this surgery doesn’t succeed?
That thought hit me like a punch to the chest.
What if that smile I just saw… was the last one she would ever give?
- Writer
