The special moments...

ESTHER’S POV

Seeing Amber makes me feel something again, but I must admit that things are no longer the same...

Feeling dizzy and fatigued, I still need to get up and go to my duty, two main operations and a few minors.

I try to skip the work for today, but something inside me tells me I need to be productive!

When I arrived at the hospital, I checked the details to determine who my patient was...

"Dolly Holist"

I'm trying to figure out why the name is familiar to me, until my cellphone alerts me to a message from Amber...

Fuck! It is Amber's grandmother!

"Esth, grandma was brought to your emergency yesterday night with a stomach problem; I hope you will check on her, please, since I am still at work overnight—Amber "

So I am accurate, it is her grandma, and I quickly find her room to check on her.

"What is Dolly Holist's room?"

"305 doc!"

"Okay, thanks."

I enter the room and see Dolly in that state, yet I can still see the enthusiasm in her face.

"Hey Doll, how are you feeling now?"

"Esth...! I am glad you're here! I've missed you since the day you left..."

"I have never gone, Doll, you know I am always here for you, I am just a call away, and you know that!"

"Hmm, thank you. I hope you and Amber will be okay again."

"Actually, we are, being friends is more exciting than being a couple…"

"No matter what it is, I am still glad that both of you are okay now."

"We do, Doll, so you don’t need to worry, okay."

And she just smiled at me; from what I can see, she appears to be fine now, though I need to check her stomach more.

I prescribe a few tests for her before the operation, then I'll check my other patient.

Going to the E.R., I heard a child's loud cry; I checked her information, and she was suspected of having Intussusception.

I approached them, and a nine-year-old girl was crying so hard to her mother...

"Good morning, ma’am. Can I talk to this pretty little girl?"

And I can watch her stop crying in the blink of an eye.

"Hey, babygirl, I am Dr. Esth. You know I can be your friend."

She did not respond, but simply looked at me. I smiled at her, and she appeared to grin, but I could feel agony around her face.

When I let out a piece of toy, her face became light and bright.

"Do you like this toy?"

And she just nods, so I offer it to her with one condition...

"I will give this to you if you can play with me."

"What are we going to play?"

I was relieved when she finally responded to what I said.

"We are going to play question and answer."

"Hmmm, what are you going to ask me?"

“Do you feel any pain?"

She didn't respond yet, but looked down at her tummy; I guess I know what she's saying.

"Does your tummy hurt?"

I inquire, but her mother speaks before she can respond.

"She always cries about her stomach, but all I give is medicine for her; she can't go into any surgery, doc."

I was startled by what I heard; keeping her child from being cured is odd to my ears.

I don't judge individuals based on their appearance, but she appears capable of undergoing surgery if necessary, so hearing those words from a mother who is supposed to be concerned about her child's well-being is really shocking.

"As her doctor, may I know the reason for not getting surgery if ever needed?"

"You see, since she was a baby, she has always been chosen to be a model for commercials. Until she gets to this age, being a famous commercial model is her dream, and we are actually leaving for the US for her biggest offer. She can't lose it, so please just cure her pain."

She added, and honestly, if I could, I'd smash her face out of this hospital, but I can't put any hardship on this child.

I was about to say anything when Amanda, my head resident, tapped my shoulder and requested permission from the mother to speak with me for a moment.

I walk with her to her office; I suppose I understand what this is all about.

"We can’t disagree with the patients' guardian, especially parents; they have the right to decide on their child’s welfare."

"I get that, but doctors also have the right to discuss and give an alternative action for the safety of the patient."

"Whatever your opinion is, we can't interfere with the parents' decision."

I suddenly feel the urge to yell in rage again! I didn't say anything to her anymore, just let it pass and left the office.

I climbed the rooftop and shouted my heart out again.

"I Love my Job...!!!"

I yell in rage.

"I'm just doing my job, and people are preventing me from doing it!"

I just let out a massive sigh and looked up at the sky...

Fortunately, the wind never fails me. I feel better now.

I was going to leave the rooftop when someone spoke to me.

"You still love to hang out here."

I look behind, and I'm correct in identifying who that voice came from...

"You know you can't be here, Doll."

"You know how I love going here, it makes me feel better."

"But, Doll, you're not okay. What if you get pained, and no one will be here?"

"I know you will be here."

After she said that, my solemn face softened into a smile.

"You really know how to make me smile, Doll,"

I replied and then sat next to her.

"Why do you always go up here?"

I inquire while facing her.

"And my husband loves a great view, we spend a lot of time watching from above, mountain hikes and rooftops."

"I see, special moments last a lifetime"

"How about you? What are your special moments?"

"Hmmm, special moments...aside from being single my whole life before meeting Amber, I am not sure what a special moment is for me"

"How about special moments with Ambi?"

On that topic, I'm caught off guard...damn, she's right; how about wonderful times, Amber...do I have any? Remembering our relationship, the first year was usually full of well...surprises…I remember…

"Sorry, Babe, if I can’t go home early, a lot of VIP customers are coming!"

"You’re kidding, right? You know what date it is today?"

"Huh? What date?"

"Nah! Never mind."

I dropped the call, and when I opened the door to our apartment that day, I was surprised to see her dressed and preparing something wonderful.

“Oh my God! I never expected this! You got me there, babe!"

"Surprise! I am on leave for two days, which I had planned for since Friday.”

"Oh...I love you, babe, I thought you forgot this day!"

"How will I ever forget our anniversary?"

"That's why I love you."

"And I love you too, Babe"

Was that a wonderful moment for me? I'm now asking myself this...sigh.

"What’s with the silence?"

When Dolly asked me again, I was brought back to reality...

"Oh, well, I kind of think about that, I guess I do have, though it seems to be a lot to enumerate hahaha"

"Okay, if you say so, dear."

Then silence surrounds us until she asks me another question.

"What about you? Why are you here this time? I presume it isn't about hanging out with your friends anymore?”

"Hahaha, nope, well, my job always limits me from being a person."

"No one can limit us from being a person, especially being a good one."

"Hmmm, since I got this career, being a good person has always been compared to being obedient...obeying rules rather than being a good one"

I said, and I was halted when she held my hand, and her smile made me feel better.

"No matter what is going through you, just always do what is right, and being a good person is always a definition of doing right."

She said, and that gave me a decent idea of what I should do...

We were both smiling in relief for some reason, and we both decided to leave the rooftop when two nurses and a woman arrived.

"There she is, Ms. Dolly Holist."

Nurse Anton said.

"Oh God, what are you doing here, grandma?"

Grandma? Who is she? Amber's sister?

"I'm fine, Casey, I am with the best Doctor here; let me present you to Doc Esther.”

The woman named Casey merely looked at me and said hello without returning the handshake I was extending.

"A good Doctor should know what is best for the patient, and I am pretty sure they do not tolerate them staying on the rooftop."

"Excuse me, who are you again? And how are you related to my patient, whom I have known for how many years personally? I am well aware that a patient should only be with a trusted guardian."

"Fine, my name is Casey Garline, I am her granddaughter’s partner, and she has asked me to look after her. Now, excuse me, Doc, grandma needs to rest to heal, which is your supposed priority."

She said and held Dolly's hand; I just let her do whatever she wants, and she was correct in what she said.

Damn! I never did anything decent today, for Pete's sake!

When I returned to the emergency room, the child and her mother had already entered a room and been confined.

Upon entering the room, the child's loud cry could be heard, and the mother had pushed the emergency button.

I rush in and check on her; she has perspiration all over her face and is clutching her stomach tightly; I can't take it anymore of not doing what I'm meant to do.

As the nurses come, I call for a pre-op and prepare the operating room, but the mother stops me.

"You still don’t understand my terms!"

"She needs to be in surgery!"

"No! You'll ruin her dream!"

"I'm doing my job, ma'am, and if damaging her career keeps her alive, then I'm pleased with what I do! Just in case you didn't notice, she's almost dying of pain; you don't want to see a commercial model showing enormous anguish rather than a gorgeous grin! I am doing my duty as you are doing yours, so please excuse me!"

I said, and my team of nurses moved the child's bed into the operating room; the last expression I saw on the mother's face was regret...

I'm just not sure why I'm feeling that regret.

We then begin the procedure for Intussusception using the greatest staff I have.

The operation took approximately an hour. This is a little surgery for me, a straightforward procedure that can be harmful if not performed on time.

After the operation, I honestly don't expect a smile or anything positive from the mother, even when she gently asks how the surgery went.

"The surgery was successful, but she needs to rest to regain her energy; other post-op details will be discussed by the nurse later."

I began, and she stopped me and held my hand.

"Thank you for saving my child. I thought her dream was important. I oversaw that her life is what matters above all. Thank you for making me realize that."

"I'm just doing my job, Ma'am,"

I said, heading to my office, when I received a message from Amanda to come into her office.

I'm not sure what she wants, but I must prepare myself, even if I'm constantly conscious of her perceived threat to me due to her position.

I don't care about any position; I just want to do my work.

When I enter her office, she merely looks at me and makes me sit.

"So, what now?"

"Feeling proud, huh?"

"Proud about what?"

"Oh, come on, you have done what you want, feeling great isn’t good, Esther, you might be happy since things go your way, but if not, you will be kicked out in here for sure."

"I am not proud, I am just doing my job and it's principle, saving a life, and those who care for once life will always understand what I did."

She was silenced by what I said; I dislike debating with her, and to be honest, I'm not sure why she called me here!

"If you don't have anything to say, I still have patients to see."

"I just want to remind you that I can't always save you! You may go."

I just got out of her office, furious with what she said, damn her! As if she is helping me!

I'm walking towards my office when the nurse reminds me about Dolly.

"Doc Esth, Holist stomach is cramping as per the patient."

She says, and I rush to her room to check on her. I just walked in and didn't spot anyone inside. I inspect her stomach and see a mass around her right lower quadrant.

"I will press this part and tell you if it is painful if I press it or if I let go of my hand."

I pressed that place and she seemed alright, but as I let go of my hand, she instantly expressed agony on her face, so I required her to undergo a whole abdominal ultrasound to validate what I suspect.

After that, the nurses prepare her for the ultrasound. When they pushed her bed out of the room, someone grabbed my arm, and I was surprised to see Amber alongside me with her girlfriend.

"Hey, thank you for looking after grandma."

"I am just doing my job; you should thank her. She was the one beside her."

"Oh, ahm, Esther, this is Casey, my girlfriend"

"We already met earlier, honey."

The woman stated. I don't know what to say to everyone anymore!

I get her tone; she is being sarcastic, but I have no time for sarcasm.

"Yes, we met at the rooftop while Dolly spends her time there as usual."

"And you let her do that still instead of getting her out of there, good luck with doing your job."

"I can't disagree with that. I apologize, Amber. Anyway, if what I see is right, providing the ultrasound result, she seems to have acute appendicitis, she will be scheduled for surgery."

"Okay...thank you, Esther."

Amber said, and I left them to continue checking on my other patient.

After 4 hours, I can say that I have had a long day today; I don't even remember how many times I said that I am doing my job for the entire fucking day!

When I went home, I sat on my couch and thought about Dolly's question...

"Special moment with Amber...”

I muttered, staring at the corner; those years with her have flown by, and I want to remember how I felt each day I spent with her, but I can't seem to recall everything.

We are both busy and have just returned home to sleep...those moments...

"Hey, babe, I can't go home early today, lots of minor surgery left in me."

"Okay, I will go ahead and sleep, just be careful driving, okay."

"Okay"

That is the regular scene every day; we rarely meet every night, and we are lucky if we can spend our off days together.

Is that a typical scenario, or am I just thinking it's special? But how do I identify such extraordinary occasions...

I am deep in thought when my doorbell rings. As I open the door, the person I didn't expect to see appears in front of me.

"Hi"

Shock is still on my face before I can respond.

"Hey, ahmm, what are you doing here?"

And then she just lifts her hand, carrying those nibbles; when I look closer, I realize that all of the stuff she brings is my favourite.

"Like the old times?"

"Old times..."

"Yes, when we just eat our favourite snack just to kill the time."

We used to sit outside the gate at the gatter, drinking coffee and eating.

"So, black coffee?"

"You know it."

"Get in first, let me prepare it."

She simply walked in and sat down on the couch; I'm still startled to see her here, but we're friends now, so there's nothing wrong with it.

"Ready to go outside?"

I ask as I prepare the coffee and settle alongside her.

"Of course!"

Then we sit at the gatter and set our snack in the same spot as before.

"Your coffee is still the best!"

"You just get used to it."

"I disagree, I have loved your coffee ever since."

"Well, thanks."

"Hahaha, you're cute!"

She laughed, and I laughed as well, then we both went silent again.

"So, what is really your reason for going here?"

"Oh...okay, Ahmm, I just want to apologize, you see, she knows you."

"Yeah, a natural reaction for a girlfriend to the ex."

"Hey, I am not here to give credit to her but to assure you are alright."

"Well, explaining how my job works the whole day is not a joke!"

"What?"

She asked, appearing to giggle.

"Yeah! Hahaha, you see, not everyone today is simple to chat to, especially your girlfriend! Though she is correct, I allowed Dolly to stay at the rooftop since it made her feel better, although medically protocol it is incorrect."

"I know you just do things your way for a good reason, not just because it is your job."

She really stated it, and I admire her more today than I have in years...

I'm not sure if she's ever expressed such earnestness before; perhaps... I believe I just let time pass us by, which is why I took every moment for granted.

"Thank you..."

"What friends are for.."

"Yeah, right!"

" Kidding aside, Casey wants to know you more; I told her we are now good friends, so she wants to confirm.

"Confirm? For what?"

"I don't know...are you… mad?"

"Not really, though it seems you are making me please her."

"It may look like that, but...."

And then she stopped talking, and I understood...

"You know you don’t have to do it…"

"I have lost you before, I can’t lose you again as my friend..."

She said, and at that point, I guess becoming friends with my ex's girlfriend isn't that horrible...

I hope so. We're simply proving our friendship, that’s all.