Bonding

ESTHER POV

I am not sure if our friendship is for the better or not, but seeing Amber sincere look, how can I disagree to what she wants.

"I am not going anywhere Amber, and FYI we lost each other so its even"

"About that, how are you after our break up?"

"Wow, you really wanted to know huh..."

"Well we are friends now I guess we are free to ask each other a question"

I am silenced on what how she was so cool about this friendship thing.

"Fine! Well, I never had a relationship ever since you came to my life so I can decipher the difference but to tell you how I was after, I cried a lot, I burried myself to work and hangout to every man and woman I met!"

"Hearing that from you makes me think if I am still talking to a same Esther before or she has been upgraded!"

"What? Upgraded? Hahaha do I look like a mobile phone geez! Well people change, changes makes us better and strong I guess"

"It seems you really love that changes and it suits you"

"Hmmmm you like who I am now than before dont you?"

And then she just smile on it before speak

"I always love who you are and who you will be, you are always special Esth"

And that sincere look again...the way she always says good things to me, her sincerity is so different than before...or I just taken for granted her since we are both busy to our each others life way back then.

"You have change as well dont you know..."

"Well people change! Hahahaha"

"Whatever! Hahaha"

We somehow enjoy this new kind of bonding, we used to do this before but this time it is really different, I guess everything we have is drasticaly chang after we part ways.

Thirthy minutes has passed when she decided to go home, I drop myself to my bed still wondering why we both suddenly change...or maybe it is really part of break up, people move on and people glow up.

I close my eyes still thinking of a lot of it...

As I woke up my cellphone rings and it is Amanda, as much as I want to avoid this person I cant cause she is unfortunately my boss.

"Yes?"

"You have four new patient today and one of them is our VIP, I need to discuss things with you so better get here as early as you could"

"Okay I will be there"

I said and then end the call, this is what I am facing everyday of my life, but who is that VIP anyway?..

I have handled the daughter of the hospital's owner case and I did a good job before I guess they base on that event giving me this time the VIP.

Being a Thoracic surgeon and Gastroenterologist is no joke, sometimes I regret having two majors,

It is easy to save lives but my body is saying otherwise.

I prepare and take a shower while Amber message me.

"Hey I had fun last night, maybe we can do that again, Or we can catch up a little, hangout anywhere-Amber"

I suddenly left myself staring at her message, she seems to really enjoy that coffee night.

"Sure why not, just tell me when so I could prepare for that"

I reply but she didnt answer anymore, I guess she got busy now,

I then head to the hospital and go straight to Amanda's office.

"Hey,"

"Sit down, this case is very important, the  second board member's wife has a congenital heart problem while she is pregnant, but Mr. Hokins still want his baby to be born"

"The probability rate of the newborn to be alive is very low as well as the mother, that isnt possible! How many months is she pregnant?"

"Six months and he is certain that he want hos child and his wife alive"

"We dont do miracles, we only cure and heal illness but what he wants is not possible!"

"We have no choice, atleast do something and whatever the outcome it will be all on him"

"Fine! Who will be my team then?"

"Clark will be the anesth and Asthra will get the baby out, the important task is with you, you cant do mistakes Esther, just do what you can except for mistakes!"

Hearing how she pressured me again makes me sick, I feel like vommiting what I just eat a while ago.

After the conversation with Amanda, I do the rounds right away and also check on Doll's abdominal ultrasound result.

I head to radiology lab and get the result and I am right, she has an acute apedicitis, she needs to be operated right away.

I walk towards Doll room and Amber is there...

A quick look to each others eyes and then act like nothing happen.

"Hey Doll, how do you feel now?"

"I am good but my stomach is cramping hard, I always feel bloated yet I even eat very little"

"That is usual for a person suffering in Acute Appendicitis, your appendix is now inflamed and we cant let it explode inside or else we will do the an Abdominal Laparotomy in which we will open the whole abodomen itself,"

"Is the surgery needs to be done now?"

"As much as possible, why?"

"I just started to work at the same hotel yesterday and it is second day today, I have a very tight schedule, I need to go to work"

I am stopped at what she just said, It seems I am seeing the same events we have before where we cant balance personal matters to our work.

"She needs her guardian right now, as much as possible it cant be other person but her family, being with patients family after surgery will help them regain strenght faster"

I can see that she was silenced looking straight at me,

Damn...dont make me say it Amber....the way how our relationshio ends...when we neglect our time for each other..

I dont know what will she response to me and I am pretty nervous if I kind of push the boundaries but hell I care, I have all the rights to tell her this...

"Okay, ahmmm I will talk to Sam, I hope she would understand me.."

"Good to hear that, I bring Dolly now in the operating room"

We then brought her for pre-op procedure and before I enter the room Amber stops me by holding my arm.

"Please...save her, I cant lose my Nan"

"She is not going anywhere and I am just going to cure her, Doll is very strong, it is only a short procedure Ambi.."

"Okay I believe in you...I will wait here"

She said and I then enter the operating room, I can see in Ambi's eyes, she is so worried about Doll that somehow makes me nervous even this procedure is so simple.

We start the operation and luckily her appendix is still just inflamed but not yet ruptured, I perform the procedure right away and when I thought things are smoothly done we are all panicked when she suddenly got a cardiac arrest,

I quickly prepare the diffibrilator and prepare her chest.

"Clear!"

She is still not responding...

"Come on Doll dont die on me!!!"

"Clear!!

And there she is, the line starts to get a response! I feel like my knees are about to drop on the floor...

I get weak for a moment and gasp some air...thank God her heart rate becomes normal.

All her vitals are now flowing good so I decided to close her and then get out of the operating room.

Before I get out of the door, I calm myself first and swallow an air so I can breath properly, I cant let Amber see me like this, all I can tell her is that the surgery went well.

As I open the door, she quickly hold my hand waiting for my words.

"The operation is successful, like I told you she is a strong woman"

Right there and then, she hugs me tight, I suddenly got stiffined...

Her wamness is always the best, I have never felt this kind of warm hugs from anyone...

"She is now in post-op and you can see her later, she really need your presence and warm touch..."

I said and then walk away from the operating room, I get some energy drink in the cafeteria and head to the rooftop.

As I felt the wind I slowly drop myself on the floor, sitting quietly and relax my mind...

It is always been a treat for me getting up here...

"Another day to survive...!!!!!!"

I shout loud to release my tireness, I shout my lung out and then close my eyes...

For a few minutes, I can feel the winds caressing my tired body, I feel relax, and when I open my eyes I was stunned to see a guy looking at my face.

"What the fuck!"

"Oh I am sorry! I thought you are sleeping"

"Ahmmm can I help you?"

"No...ahmmm it is my first time here...everyone told me that this hospital has the greatest view from above and a good ambiance of rooftop"

"Ahmm yeah"

I said and then stand up and was about to walk away but he said something agaid.

"So I will be going to see this great view always from now on...waaaahh what a great feeling standing in here"

I was stop hearing what he said.

"Excuse me...are you a patient here?"

"Soon to be...I know my manager will tell me that once I get out of here..."

"Manager?"

"Yes, I am musician, I am part of a band"

"Oh I see, sorry I am not into music, I am a doctor"

"I can see that...but you seem to be distress, are you okay doc?"

He said wearing that beautiful smile...yes he is a guy but he smile so beautifuly...

"Oh,I am fine, just tired, I just got from the operation and need some air"

"Well it is good to know that I will be hangout with a doctor here, I kind of feel safe"

I dont know but I feel like I suddenly blushed...fuck, what is going on with me, but his smile is really cute which makes me feel better...

"May I know what is your...-"

"My defectivity? Well, I have a heart problem...a large heart"

Damn...he is so young to have this kind of disease...

"Ahmm well you shouldnt let yourself tired, I suggest you go down now and go home for rest"

"Maybe later doc, "

He said and then give me that smile again, I guess I cant convince him right now so I head my way out.

I let out my cellphone and try to look for a certain band, I guess he is a celebrity though I am not familiar since it isnt my thing,

Scrolling and searching different famous band in the country, I was stop when I found it, he is a vocalist of    a band name Nocturnal.

They are indeed famous and well known,

What will happen now that he needs to be hospitalized?

I look for their names and the googles gives me David Mason, he is only 25 years old and the leader of the famous band at the age of 19,

Maybe later I can listen to their music...

Going to my office the nurse walk towards me..

"Doc Esth, Ms. Miranda Hokins arrives, they are at the VIP room at building A, Ms. Amanda is waiting for you there too"

"Okay thanks"

I quickly walk towards the building A when I bump into the elevator with Amber.

"Hey, I will just go back to Nan's room, they already brought her back there"

"That is good, you need to be beside her when she open her eyes"

"I know, thank you again Esth"

"Welcome, it is my job..."

"How I wish I get to know how fantastic doctor you are when we are still together but I failed to do that"

I didnt expect she would say that, I thought I was the only one who has regret, I can see in her eyes that she is as well.

"Well we are still friends now and you are seeing how my work done, it is still the same"

"Maybe but if it was before, I may appreciate you more...I have lots of shortcoming between us, I have lots of failure when it comes to you"

"Is this really the time to talk about it?"

"Oh I am sorry, ahmmmm what I want to really say is if I can invite you for a dinner later?"

"Later...ahmmm I have an important meeting right now and I dont know how long it will take, probably late at night"

"How late? I can wait..."

I was stunned to what she says, she seems to really change as well, time is the most important thing for her and now she is willing to wait and waste the time for me...

"Ahmmm okay, I will go to your house after the meeting"

"Alright...I'll wait"

She said and then the elevator open and she get out still looking at me...

Her smile...that is the only thing that never change..I still love her smile above anyone in the world...more than that guys with a beautiful smile as well...

Amber has this two little dimple everytime she smile, her almond shape eyes and thick but lovely eye brows, her thin but wavy hair...

Her whole being is what I used to love...now she is already loved by another soul.

While I am on my thought walking, I didnt know I am already outside the thoracic business facility,

I open the door and there they are, I shake hands to Mr. and Mrs. Hokins, I can see the other department present on the table Clark and Asthra.

I sit besides Asthra and the meeting starts, we will tackle the situation of Mrs. Hokins and the possible surgery she will get, also the risk they need to take...

Amanda was the one explaining the case and she start discussing.

"Good afternoon doctors and Mr. and Mrs. Hokins, the case of our patient is very special, Mrs. Hokins has a Congenital heart disease and right now she is pregnant with her first baby, we all know the risk and possible complications and that is the reason of this meeting, please doctor state your concern, things to explain and possible risk of her case"

Asthra starts to speak in behalf of the baby inside which is already six months.

"Hello everyone I am doctor Asthra and I am specializing pediatrics surgery and midwifery, the thing is, we can still get the baby alive how ever the risk will be to the mother, normal deliver will cause to much force and pressure that can lead to weaken her heart, and if we will do the cessarian section we are not pretty sure that her heart can take the pressure of CS surgery but for sure we will creat a good plan on how to execute the goal of retaining the mothers life and the Baby, to explain the further situation of the mother's heart, let me all introduce Doctor Esther our thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon"

After Asthra introduce me, I feel like my knees are shaking and sweats starts to drip from my palm.

I then stand-up and walk in front,

"Pleasure to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Hokins, I am Doctor Esther specializing Thoracic and Cardiovascular surgery, as I look into Mrs. Hokins case, having a congenital heart disease may lead her to miscarriage or failure to deliever her baby, having a heart disease to a pregnant woman can be fatal for both or we will need to choose who will be save between the two, that is the normal risk factor, our heart muscle is build with a very special and sensitive kind of muscle, all the tubes, valves and arteries has a special function but when the time that it will becomes weak because of the disease, it will be fatal for the body, being pregnant maybe a great risk factors because of the pressure that it will bring to the heart at the time of delivery, but we will do our best to look for any other way to reach our goal, it will not be easy and very complicated but we will do what we could"

I said and I can see the hope in Mrs. Hokins eyes, she trusted us that we will do the right thing.

As the meeting ends, Amanda is with the couple going out of the hospital and the three of us doctors left the room.

"We should study this case further since we still have time, I will request for the result of the patient's prenatal check up until delivery"

Asthra said,

"I may need all the information about her congenital disease and possible compensatory effect of it, weak heart can lead to othe disease so I might need a full history of the patient"

I said,

"Her state will be very sensitive at the time of the surgery, I may do an extra hand and extra measures for her, we all need to study this case very well"

Clark said and the three of us just let out an air to relieve our thoughts,

It takes almost an hour and half for the meeting to end, I check the time and it is already 10pm, I check my cellphone and she message me that she will wait,

I quickly prepare myself to leave and head to Amber's house,

One knock on the door and she opens it, her beautiful smile seems to lighten my tired eyes, her presence has always been a good source of strenght for me.

"Hi"

"Hey"

"Ahmm come in"

I sit down at her couch but she hold my hand and let me sit at the chair of dinning table.

She pulled the chair for me which is honestly very unusual before,...

We have no time to be sweet and romantic, just a normal kind of sweetness and that's it.

"Wow, still remember my food"

"Ofcourse how can I forget it"

"The kind of fried chicken you always cook for me, the chicken soup with ginger, my favorite!"

"I know you love that"

"How about you, still love the shells and mussels soup with green veggies?, I still remember when we try to eat in an unusual place we get into, they have this eat all you can restaurant and all you did was to eat that shells and mussel soup! I was so worried since it is still a seafood where you usualy get a stomach pain after eating such"

"Hahaha, I just love how they cook my favorite food, I almost finish five plates! Hahaha"

"That is insane everytime I remembers it, eating in eat all you can with only one meal! Hahaha"

And our dinner starts with laughing while cherishing the past....