HIDING BEHIND THE SHADOWS

Chapter 17 - Come Back

RUTH’S  POV

I rushed to the emergency room as soon as I heard my name called twice. Another urgent call, two years ago when I became a resident doctor in Sta. Barbara county hospital I learned to love the people here. I grew up in the states but my father was born here and chooses to retire in this place.  I love my father so much I can’t stay away from him.  Luckily, when we came here they need another doctor and they were happy to have me.  After a year my father died but I learn to love the place, I stayed here for good.

“What happened Emma?” I asked the Emma the camp patrol to give me some information about the patient.

“Broken hearted” she said flatly “too much alcohol, we found him in his cottage, he passed out and I don’t know doc… please take good care of him he’s a good friend” she added.

I look at the man on the stretcher, unconscious. She’s right a smell of alcohol, his skin is burning, temples are sweating and his heartbeat is fading… I have to save him.  “Any close relatives or family coming in?” I ask the nurse he shook his head.  “Anybody got the patients’ name?” I asked the nurse “Aaron Wesley, 26 CEO Wesley Corporation” the nurse answered holding his company ID.

“Okay Aaron, listen to me, I can’t do this alone… stay with us… please come back” Ruth repeating the word again and again until she hears his heartbeat is stable.  She then pressed a kiss on Aaron’s forehead and whisper “Thank you for coming back”.  Ruth always do that to his patients.  She believes that a gesture of love is a big help for patient’s recovery.  When she came out of the room, she was greeted by the Nana Ysabelle “Dr. Forster… how is he?” she asked “His heart is stable now, his body responds to the medicine but we’re not sure yet for the possible complication, we almost lost him, is he-?” she cut me off  “my nephew”

“Oh I see… he had too much alcohol intake… I asked the nurse to clean him” she said

“Thank you, Ruth” she said. I hugged her lightly and bid goodbye.

I remember when my Mom had a hard attack, my Dad was deployed in middle east during that time. It was only me and my Mom. I called 911 and they came to rescue my mom. They keep calling her name and asked her to stay with them but my mom is too weak to open her eyes.  The doctors asked me to hold her hands on our way to the hospital.  She managed to hold back my tiny little hands but soon let go before we reached the hospital.  I keep calling her “Come back” I keep repeating the words the 911 staff stood watching me while we were in the ambulance with watery eyes. Moments passed and I felt my mom’s grip again and she opened her eyes and called my name.  The 911 said I had a voice of an angel and I would be a doctor someday I could save many patients suffering from heart attacks. And that’s where it all started.