INTRAPERSONAL-5

INTRAPERSONAL

Rony Brown

Episode 5

 

She tried to forget everything. But only succeeded in remembering everything. Every touch. The way it burned. The way it stung when she was rejected. Every minute detail plagued her.

“Nurse Donaldy!” This teen voice is excited. The rest was a blur as she wondered about the new voices that seem to replace the other ones every week.

This must be her first day here. Latest by tomorrow, she would dread stepping foot into this hospital. That’s if she’s not out by the afternoon.

Victoria moved mechanically towards the theatre. She went to the hand washing station and felt the dread start to creep up on her. With every rub she felt even more dazed. When she finished, she was helped into her protective clothing and by this time she could hear the ringing in her ears. It grew louder with every step.

Another step and she would be on the ground.

Then she stopped herself.

One more step and she would have no career to come back to. She could already see the nurses gathering around tables and throwing their heads back in ecstatic laughter. No, she won’t be the source of their joy.

She turned back and practically fled the theatre. She saw Vincent coming out of the opposite theatre with some other colleagues. Vincent was one of the three anaesthetist in the largest military hospital in the country. And even before Victoria approached him, he seemed to want to poof out of sight.

“Vincent?” Victoria pleaded.

“No.” Vincent did not need Victoria to say anymore. He flat out declined.

Victoria felt the panic build up again.

“Argh!” He groaned and walked past Victoria into the theatre she came out from. Even then she was still in panic mode. Suddenly, the smell of the hospital was unbearable. Something she had loved. A smell that had reminded her of all those lives she had helped saved was now suffocating her to death.

I have to get out of here.

Still in her protective clothing she struggled desperately to hold herself up whilst she got to the door.

“Nurse Donaldy.” This voice was not enthusiastic. It was worn out. Almost like how she would sound if she had the energy to make a sound. “Please move to the cafeteria on the first floor.”

Victoria held the door handle before she could crumple to the ground. She stood for a long time then took a deep breath and started walking back, all the while peeling off whatever extra clothing she had on. She dumped it and descended up the stairs.

“Victoria.”

When did I get on first name terms with this bitch?

“Doctor Ofosu.” Her tone was as chilled as ice.

“No please, not today. Let’s not want to kill each other today.” Victoria recognised her desperation and immediately sobered.

“I kept going over and over the surgery. It kept tormenting me. The guy’s cancer was at the initial stages and was barely benign. It was supposed to be an easy surgery. At first I thought it was your fault. But I …” She paused and twitched uncomfortably. “I know you are a good anaesthetist. They say you are even better than that doctor anaesthetist. So if it couldn’t be you…” She seem to have ended her speech.

“Doctor.” They both looked up. It was Brain’s wife. Her eyes were swollen and bloodshot. She was so young. Victoria’s heart jarred as she thought of how it would be if she were in her place.

Utterly devastated!

“Thank you for making this process easier for me. I didn’t…” She steeled herself for her next words. “We have come to take him so we can prepare his body for the burial this weekend.”

She turned to leave.

“Sorry, Mrs. Ambulley.” Victoria suddenly shot up and caught up with her. “Was Mr. Brian epileptic?”

“Yes, why?” Mrs. Ambulley replied. Victoria considered for a minute.

Giving the whole truth would not help this woman. At best it could bring down the heaviest lawsuit this hospital had ever seen. But would telling her take away her pain?

“It complicated the surgery.” Then Victoria added from the raw part of herself that she discovered at her sister’s place, “I am very sorry for your loss.”

Mrs. Ambulley’s eyes filled up immediately. And so did Victoria’s.

When Victoria joined Doctor Ofosu she was on the verge of exploding.

“I read his file over and over again. Nowhere was it stated that he was epileptic!”

“Calm down,” Victoria whispered sharply. “I also did the same. If this woman figures out the truth, this hospital is doomed. I am thinking somebody didn’t do his or her job correctly or the guy neglected to foreclose his full medical history. Whatever the case, you know the protocol in such a case. You better start initiating it before we get blamed for this mess.” Victoria stood up to leave.

“Nurse Donaldy!”

There is only one voice that is recognisable by every worker in the hospital. And it is that of the health worker. She was usually very nice. But that characteristic only fell short when it came to matters involving her son.

Vincent!

Victoria winced.

“It is nice to see that you are going along well with the doctors. Now, why do you have my son in the theatre you are supposed to be in?” She scolded.

“Good morning.” Doctor Ofosu said as she walked away. She shrug her shoulder’s apologetically at Victoria and proceeded to retreat from the battle field. All eyes in the cafeteria was rooted on the battle that was already won by the famous nurse manager.

“I … Erhm… I …” Victoria faltered.

“Just as I thought! You are spending this morning and afternoon shift in the male ward. Move it.” It wouldn’t have made much difference if she had just pulled Victoria by the ear and dragged her out of the cafeteria. And there were sneers and snickers all over as Victoria was practically marched out.

Male ward?! No, not the jerks’ ward! The doctors are jerks and even some patients take it upon themselves to emulate them.

“Vicky!” The warm voice of her long-time friend greeted her the moment she entered the ward.

“Fumi!” Victoria replied.

“Nurse Manager has called o.” She couldn’t meet Victoria’s eyes, “She said to make you join the student nurses. They are here for the vacation. Be nice.” She warned.

What? Those dimwits only know how to take vital signs and bring back infections.

“Wow, I get an almost holiday for my transgressions.” Victoria joked. Or at least tried. It was better than pitying herself.

Vic walked quietly behind them. She was amused at their enthusiasm. She watched as they went from patient to patient. She thought of her days as a student nurse. She found herself getting angry at the memories. Her life was definitely rocky then.

“Sorry.”

Someone had bumped into her from behind and had apologised. It was no use because she had already armed her head with the foulest words she could find.

But when she looked up at him her mind was blank.

Standing right in front of her was the rock, in her rocky past.

He was also stunned.

“Vee?” He asked.

Yea, that is him alright! The only person in my life who refers to me by a single alphabet.

“Ish.” She stated coolly yet categorically.  

“Wow, Vee.” He sized her up appreciatively. “We must definitely catch up.”

Her smile was stiff.

“How is the wife? Are there kids now?” She asked.

“All is well. You look amazing. How have you…”

“He’s dying!”

“O my God!”

“Help!”

Suddenly there was panic everywhere. She located the patient. He was choking two beds away from where she stood.

Damn these student nurses.

With run to his side and instantaneously tilted his head to one side.  Saliva drain out of his mouth. She jumped onto his bed and proceed to give him a cardiac massage and before long he was breathing well on his own again.

“Nobody should lay a finger on this patient.”  Victoria was livid.

They all looked at her with awe. Then a lone clap started from the corner. In another second, the whole ward was reverberating with applause.

Ishmael from nowhere swept Victoria off her feet with a resounding hug.

“We are definitely catching up now!” He said amidst the excitement.

Her body's reaction was a usual instant. What was definitely catching up going to be like?