Chapter 37: Reasons to Live On

Nelly sat in the middle of the clubhouse. She lost count of the number of patients she’d seen. Since she arrived, she’d already done seven operations. She didn’t even look up to see how many of those patients were left. She simply kept on going. She knew that if she’d stopped, even for a second, she might lose her momentum.

“Right. Can you help check his injury?” She asked the man in front of him, signalling at the man to his right with her eyes. “Why are you asking me? I’m a patient. I’m no doctor,” the man replied. Nelly smiled. “Cause I’m busy treating you right here, don’t you see? I do not have a spare hand to do so,” she replied with ease.

“I’m in pain! And I have no medical knowledge. Come on, doc! Stop pulling my leg,” the man said, finally averting his attention away from his broken arm.

Krak! The man’s screech echoed alongside the sound of bone breaking. “I’m pulling your arm, not your leg,” Nelly said as if nothing happened, “here you go! It’s connected. Rest for a little while.”

As she turned her attention to the second man, he backed into his chair. “I’m fine now, doc!” He said with both his hands raised. Nelly squinted at the burn mark on his arm. “You didn’t handle that properly, did you?” She sighed as she scanned it with her eyes. She was about to reach for the first aid kit but Jack appeared from behind her. He blocked her from reaching the tool she needed.

“The doctor has to rest now. The line over there has cleared. Go over,” he said to the men. They moved over to the neighboring line, leaving only Nelly and Jack at their station. Nelly’s brows furrowed as she lifted her head to look at Jack. “What was that?” She asked, baffled.

“You’ve done so many operations and seen countless patients. Aren’t you tired?” Jack replied with a question of his own. Nelly blinked as she adjusted herself to the surroundings. It felt as if she was in her own space. There were only her and the patients. Whatever happened in their surroundings wasn’t her business.

Only after the reminder did she start to feel a little exhausted. “Maybe I am,” she said. “Everything is under control now. You can take a break. Eat something. Get some sleep. I’ll wake you up if there’s a case we can’t handle,” Jack ushered her to a room. “Rest,” he said one final time before closing the door behind him.

Nelly sighed. It was a disaster. There were so many patients that she was afraid to think of the fatality one night of maniacal events could cause. It was a terrifying event. She was ashamed that she actually felt good in that situation.  Since arriving in the town, she always felt out of place and worthless. That night was one of the few times she got to do what she’s good at. It was the most useful she’s ever felt.

She sat at the edge of the bed and looked down at her hands. They started shaking. How long had she been seeing patients and operating for? That would be her longest record of working hours so far. How long has it been?

She looked out the window. The sun was setting. It was night when she arrived. She estimated a total of 20 hours since her arrival at the clubhouse. Or did another day pass without her realizing?

She climbed onto the bed and sat leaning against the headboard. However, sleep was hard to come by. Her whole being was still in a fight or flight mode. She tried to force herself to relax. Just then, a soft knock sounded from the other side of the door.

“Are you asleep?” Jack’s voice sounded through the closed door. Immediately, she sprung up from the bed and opened the door.

Her reaction caught Jack by surprise. “Did I wake you?” Although it seemed unlikely, he asked the question anyway. “I wasn’t asleep,” she replied, “did anything happen?” She was on full alert.

“Oh, no, no. Nothing happened. I brought some food,” Jack handled the burger he was holding to her. “Relax,” he said as he observed her closely. “I tried,” she said in between bites. “What happened?” Jack asked without missing a beat. “Didn’t you say nothing happened?” Nelly was confused.

“Not with the attacks. With your relax issue. What happened?” Jack replied, trying not to laugh. That got a chuckle out of Nelly. “I guess I’m on standby; physically and mentally.” Jack shook his head while making disapproving sounds. “That won’t do. Your patients need you. But if you drop now, what would happen?”

Nelly continued taking small bites of her burger. The gears turned in her head. Suddenly, she pushed the half-eaten burger towards Jack. “I need to rest,” she said as she moved towards the bed. “Make sure to wake me up if there’s any issue with the post-operation patients or if there are any new patients,” she said as she covered herself with the blanket.

Jack shook his head. She’s really an open book. He admired how she really cared for the lives of the people, how she’d do anything in order to save a patient. Yes, she might look timid. That’s because she lacked experience. But whenever it comes to the lives of her patients, she’d never take it lightly. Whenever there’s a patient, she turns into a totally different person. When she’s saving a life, she’s not the little girl from the city who hides behind her brother, but a doctor who’s able to handle the weight of the life in her hands.

That sounded exactly like the little girl from years ago. The same girl who saved his life when he thought that it was the end for him. How’s she doing? He wondered if he could recognize her if she appeared in front of him again. He got his wisdom from her. The words she said to him gave him life. It gave him the will to live.

“If you die now, how are you going to see her?” Her innocent words sprouting from curiosity got him to realize that he had to take better care of himself and live on for the sake of the people he wanted to protect. For that, he was grateful for her.

He saw how Nelly selflessly sacrificed herself for the sake of others. What goes around comes around. The little girl helped him years ago. Now, he’d help Nelly preserve the kindness and life she has in her.