A flash A loud bang Darkness Darkness
Finally the darkness started to clear. I heard a voice:
Dr. Emily, this is the rescue worker, something has exploded there.
Through the pain I felt a hand touch my neck. I tried to pry open my eyelids. It was hard. Before my eyes was a pendant shaped like a rectangle with zodiac signs engraved on it… The eyes of the woman in a white coat
To the operating room! the voice sounded right beside me.
My parents came home from work. Mom headed straight to the kitchen after peeking into the room where I was doing my homework. Dad, upon entering the room, noticed right away that my mood wasn’t great.
Tommy, what’s wrong? Dad ruffled my hair.
Nothing, – I muttered, as a fourth-grader.
Come on, out with it!
Valentine’s Day is coming soon. The teacher kept us after class today and told us we have to prepare gifts for the girls.
Well, what’s the issue? Dad smiled.
There are equal numbers of boys and girls. And she assigned who gives to whom, – I sighed deeply. I got the not pretty one, Emily Thompson.
All girls want a gift on Valentine’s Day, even the not pretty ones do, – Dad tried to speak to me like an adult. And how did she assign them? By the alphabet?
No, by zodiac signs.
How does that work? Dad couldn’t help smiling again.
By compatibility. Emily is a Virgo, and Virgos match best with Taurus. And I’m a Taurus, as it turns out.
That’s good if you match! When you grow up, maybe you’ll fall in love with her.
Dad couldn’t hold it in and laughed. Mom ran into the room right away:
What’s happening here?
Helen, go to the kitchen, – Dad’s face turned serious. We have a serious talk with our son.
When Mom left, I asked in a sad voice:
Dad, what do I do now?
Prepare the gift!
What kind?
Tomorrow at work I’ll make one for your chosen girl.
Dad, what gift can you make? You work at the factory.
Yes! But I work in the electroplating shop. We make all sorts of metal coatings there.
Dad, I don’t get it.
You’ll see tomorrow!
***
The next day Dad brought a pendant on a chain shaped like a rectangle that looked golden. On one side two zodiac signs were engraved, Taurus and Virgo, and on the other side finely but nicely written:
“To my classmate Emily on Valentine’s Day! Tommy.”
Oh, how beautifully that pendant looked! And when Mom wrapped it in a small plastic bag, it looked absolutely stunning.
***
And so the day before Valentine’s Day. The teacher wasn’t planning to hold regular lessons. First the students gave her a gift. She thanked them for a long time. Then she announced that the boys should give their gifts to the girls.
What a commotion started! All the boys rushed to their “chosen ones”. I went up to Emily Thompson too and said what Dad had taught me:
Emily, I congratulate you on Valentine’s Day! Maybe someday fate will bring a Taurus and a Virgo together.
After saying the memorized phrase, I went back to my seat and of course didn’t notice how this not pretty girl’s heart, in my opinion, started pounding.
Soon Emily’s parents moved to another area, and from fifth grade Emily started going to a different school.
***
I opened my eyes. The white ceiling of the hospital room. I tried to move my arms and legs. Only my left arm moved.
Where am I? I said to no one in particular.
There was a clicking sound and a patient on crutches came up to my bed, looked at me closely and asked:
You awake? You’re in the emergency surgery department.
Are my arms and legs all okay? I asked quietly.
Seems everything’s in place, – he shared the good news. You’re just bandaged from head to toe.
That’s good if everything’s intact.
Then a nurse came over and asked with concern:
– How are you feeling?
– What happened to me? I replied with a question.
– Your life isn’t in danger. Your arms and legs will work. You’ll just have a lot of scars left, – she handed me a switched-on phone. Your mom wanted you to call when you woke up.
– Son, – my mother’s voice came through tears.
– Mom, everything’s fine, – I tried to sound as upbeat as I could. They said only small scars will be left. They’ll let me out soon.
– They wouldn’t let me stay with you overnight. Son, I’m coming over now.
– Mom, don’t worry too much!
I put the phone down next to me and tried to smile at the nurse:
– Thank you!
– Well, they won’t let you out anytime soon, – the nurse smiled back. You’ll be here for three weeks for sure!
– What happened to you? the neighbor in the room asked after the nurse left.
– I’m a rescue worker. At the factory oxygen cylinders started exploding, – I started remembering. They called us in. We got there before the firefighters. The place is huge, with three victims inside. We ran in, there were cylinders all over, fire in spots. We started carrying out the victims I was the last one out When I was near the door, another cylinder exploded I don’t remember anything after that.
– Yeah, you really got it.
– Tom Wilson, – the nurse’s voice came. Your colleague from work is here to see you.
– Hi, Tom! How are you doing?
– Arms and legs are fine! the patient answered optimistically. But I can only shake hands with my left one right now!
– Don’t worry about it!
– What happened after that?
– We were heading out when it exploded. We rushed back in right away and pulled you out you were covered in blood the doctors were already there
– Thanks!
– Tom, what are you on about?! suddenly a smile appeared on my friend’s face. – It looks like they want to put us up for medals.
– I’ll be out by then.
– Alright, I’m off. You’ll have rounds soon. The nurse said not to stay long.
My friend hadn’t even left before the doctor, a man in his forties, came in:
– Well, how are we, hero? he came up to my bed.
– Alright.
– Since you’re talking, that means you’ll live. Come on, let me check you over!
– Did you stitch me up? I asked.
– No, Dr. Emily did. She’ll be here the day after tomorrow.
***
Two days went by. I was already trying to get up. The pain in my legs was still bad, though, and my right arm was all torn up. There were at least ten wounds across my body. Two on my face; when it exploded I hit the gate, luckily I got my right arm up in time. I checked myself in the mirror. My face was still puffy.
Today the doctor who had spent five hours straight stitching me up in the operating room was supposed to do the rounds. I was even a bit nervous.
And then she walked in. Young, slender, wearing glasses, but they didn’t detract from her looks one bit, and the white coat really suited her. At twenty-seven I was already married. But we split after six months our personalities didn’t match, as the paperwork said, but really my ex-wife just didn’t like the pay of a rescue worker.
– Hello! the doctor said and walked over to my bed.
– Hello! Was it you who stitched me up?
– It was, – she smiled. Is something wrong?
– Let me examine you!
And she leaned over me In front of my eyes was a pendant with zodiac signs, hanging from her neck:
– Emily Thompson!!! I cried out.
She looked closely at my swollen face.
– I’m sorry! she said, without recognizing me.
– I’m a Taurus, – and I pointed to the pendant.
– Tom Wilson? her lips started to tremble. You remember me?
– Of course I do, Emily, – seeing the tears in the woman’s eyes, I placed my hand on hers.
– Sorry! she pulled out a tissue and dabbed her eyes. I never imagined we’d run into each other like this.
Emily didn’t come back to my room that day. But I had figured out her schedule was the same as mine: day shift, night shift, and two days off.
I didn’t want to seem helpless around her. All the next day I practiced walking around the room by leaning on the beds, and a couple times I even made it out to the hallway holding onto the wall.
Evening came. The daytime doctor left. The night shift arrived you could tell from the chatter in the hall. Rounds were coming up
Suddenly there were shouts and quick footsteps in the hallway. That happens when they bring in another injured person.
It was already ten o’clock. The nurse came in and turned off the light in the room. But I couldn’t sleep. Past midnight I heard footsteps in the hallway; they stopped, and in the quiet I sensed more than heard someone crying out there. I got up and quietly stepped into the hallway.
At the nurses’ station sat my old classmate, her head down on her hands, crying. I walked over and put my good hand on her shoulder:
– What’s the matter, Emily?
She stood up and buried her face against my shoulder:
– I operated on a woman who was hit by a car, – she started telling me, her voice choked with tears. I did everything I could and even what seemed impossible She’s in intensive care now, but she won’t make it. She has two kids her husband’s with her in the room right now
– Calm down, Emily!
– I’ve been a surgeon for three years and I still can’t get used to people dying.
– Calm down, calm down! That’s just how our jobs are. In five years I’ve seen plenty of deaths too, but we’ve saved a lot of lives as well, – I let out a heavy sigh. – That’s why my wife left me. She says I come home not myself and don’t make much money. But I always end up with forty enough to get by.
– Same for me, – she looked me in the eye. Guys think I’m weird. I’ve never been married and still live at home with my parents like I’m a child.
– Come on, we’re only twenty-seven we’ve got our whole lives ahead.
– No, Tom, we’re already twenty-seven.
– Dr. Emily, her pulse is fading, – a nurse yelled as she ran out.
– Excuse me! and Emily dashed off to intensive care.
I couldn’t sleep at all that night. In the morning the nurse came and gave me my usual shot.
– The woman you operated on last night, is she still alive? I asked, surprising even myself.
– Yes, but her condition is extremely critical.
***
Three weeks passed. The wounds on my body had closed up. We saw each other during her shifts, and I found myself more and more drawn to her. But the emergency surgery department wasn’t the spot for talking about anything really personal.
Then one morning during rounds the male doctor announced:
– Today I’m releasing you, – he smiled and added. From the hospital, that is. You’ll head straight to your local clinic, and they’ll figure out how much more time you’ll need on sick leave.
– I can pack up!
– Yes, yes! Take your time. They’ll have your discharge ready shortly.
After the doctor left, I shaved. Looking in the mirror, I was pleased to see that the two scars left didn’t ruin my face; if anything, they added a bit of manliness. The rest of the scars weren’t worth worrying about.
I got my things together and stepped into the hallway. Coming toward me, leaning on the wall, was a patient.
“She pulled through after all!” a happy thought crossed my mind.
The nurse came out and handed me the papers:
– Goodbye, Tom! Try not to end up back here!
***
I had my own one-bedroom apartment, but I headed to my parents’ place. Mom had been so worried and had even taken time off work.
– Son! she threw her arms around me.
– It’s okay, Mom! See, I’m alive and well.
– Come on, I made you something to eat. You’ve gotten so thin.
– Boy, have I missed home cooking!
– You can stay in your old room until you get better and get married. It’s still empty, – she called out like I was a kid. Go wash your hands!
***
By evening I had gone to the barber. I stopped by my apartment and grabbed some clothes. Mom got right to work straightening them out.
Dad came home from work in the evening. We all sat together like we used to and talked late into the night.
I went to bed in my old room where I’d spent my childhood and teenage years, but I didn’t fall asleep right away:
“Tomorrow I need to stop by the clinic. Then work. And in the evening”
With thoughts of the next evening, I finally drifted off well past midnight.
***
The next morning I went to the clinic. I spent the morning going from office to office. After lunch I headed to work for my shift.
– Where are you going? Dad asked.
– Dad, remember way back when I was in fourth grade. You made that pendant as a gift for my classmate?
– The not pretty Emily Thompson? I remember.
– Remember, you also said, “Grow up, maybe you’ll fall in love with her.”
– I remember that too.
– Dad, Emily’s a surgeon now. She operated on me. And she’s still wearing that pendant around her neck.
– Well, would you look at that!
– Dad, your words came true. I’m going to see her!
***
Twenty-seven years isn’t so much to start a life with a loved one.A flash A loud bang Darkness Darkness
Finally the darkness started to clear. I heard a voice:
Dr. Emily, this is the rescue worker, something has exploded there.
Through the pain I felt a hand touch my neck. I tried to pry open my eyelids. It was hard. Before my eyes was a pendant shaped like a rectangle with zodiac signs engraved on it… The eyes of the woman in a white coat
To the operating room! the voice sounded right beside me.
My parents came home from work. Mom headed straight to the kitchen after peeking into the room where I was doing my homework. Dad, upon entering the room, noticed right away that my mood wasn’t great.
Tommy, what’s wrong? Dad ruffled my hair.
Nothing, – I muttered, as a fourth-grader.
Come on, out with it!
Valentine’s Day is coming soon. The teacher kept us after class today and told us we have to prepare gifts for the girls.
Well, what’s the issue? Dad smiled.
There are equal numbers of boys and girls. And she assigned who gives to whom, – I sighed deeply. I got the not pretty one, Emily Thompson.
All girls want a gift on Valentine’s Day, even the not pretty ones do, – Dad tried to speak to me like an adult. And how did she assign them? By the alphabet?
No, by zodiac signs.
How does that work? Dad couldn’t help smiling again.
By compatibility. Emily is a Virgo, and Virgos match best with Taurus. And I’m a Taurus, as it turns out.
That’s good if you match! When you grow up, maybe you’ll fall in love with her.
Dad couldn’t hold it in and laughed. Mom ran into the room right away:
What’s happening here?
Helen, go to the kitchen, – Dad’s face turned serious. We have a serious talk with our son.
When Mom left, I asked in a sad voice:
Dad, what do I do now?
Prepare the gift!
What kind?
Tomorrow at work I’ll make one for your chosen girl.
Dad, what gift can you make? You work at the factory.
Yes! But I work in the electroplating shop. We make all sorts of metal coatings there.
Dad, I don’t get it.
You’ll see tomorrow!
***
The next day Dad brought a pendant on a chain shaped like a rectangle that looked golden. On one side two zodiac signs were engraved, Taurus and Virgo, and on the other side finely but nicely written:
“To my classmate Emily on Valentine’s Day! Tommy.”
Oh, how beautifully that pendant looked! And when Mom wrapped it in a small plastic bag, it looked absolutely stunning.
***
And so the day before Valentine’s Day. The teacher wasn’t planning to hold regular lessons. First the students gave her a gift. She thanked them for a long time. Then she announced that the boys should give their gifts to the girls.
What a commotion started! All the boys rushed to their “chosen ones”. I went up to Emily Thompson too and said what Dad had taught me:
Emily, I congratulate you on Valentine’s Day! Maybe someday fate will bring a Taurus and a Virgo together.
After saying the memorized phrase, I went back to my seat and of course didn’t notice how this not pretty girl’s heart, in my opinion, started pounding.
Soon Emily’s parents moved to another area, and from fifth grade Emily started going to a different school.
***
I opened my eyes. The white ceiling of the hospital room. I tried to move my arms and legs. Only my left arm moved.
Where am I? I said to no one in particular.
There was a clicking sound and a patient on crutches came up to my bed, looked at me closely and asked:
You awake? You’re in the emergency surgery department.
Are my arms and legs all okay? I asked quietly.
Seems everything’s in place, – he shared the good news. You’re just bandaged from head to toe.
That’s good if everything’s intact.
Then a nurse came over and asked with concern:
– How are you feeling?
– What happened to me? I replied with a question.
– Your life isn’t in danger. Your arms and legs will work. You’ll just have a lot of scars left, – she handed me a switched-on phone. Your mom wanted you to call when you woke up.
– Son, – my mother’s voice came through tears.
– Mom, everything’s fine, – I tried to sound as upbeat as I could. They said only small scars will be left. They’ll let me out soon.
– They wouldn’t let me stay with you overnight. Son, I’m coming over now.
– Mom, don’t worry too much!
I put the phone down next to me and tried to smile at the nurse:
– Thank you!
– Well, they won’t let you out anytime soon, – the nurse smiled back. You’ll be here for three weeks for sure!
– What happened to you? the neighbor in the room asked after the nurse left.
– I’m a rescue worker. At the factory oxygen cylinders started exploding, – I started remembering. They called us in. We got there before the firefighters. The place is huge, with three victims inside. We ran in, there were cylinders all over, fire in spots. We started carrying out the victims I was the last one out When I was near the door, another cylinder exploded I don’t remember anything after that.
– Yeah, you really got it.
– Tom Wilson, – the nurse’s voice came. Your colleague from work is here to see you.
– Hi, Tom! How are you doing?
– Arms and legs are fine! the patient answered optimistically. But I can only shake hands with my left one right now!
– Don’t worry about it!
– What happened after that?
– We were heading out when it exploded. We rushed back in right away and pulled you out you were covered in blood the doctors were already there
– Thanks!
– Tom, what are you on about?! suddenly a smile appeared on my friend’s face. – It looks like they want to put us up for medals.
– I’ll be out by then.
– Alright, I’m off. You’ll have rounds soon. The nurse said not to stay long.
My friend hadn’t even left before the doctor, a man in his forties, came in:
– Well, how are we, hero? he came up to my bed.
– Alright.
– Since you’re talking, that means you’ll live. Come on, let me check you over!
– Did you stitch me up? I asked.
– No, Dr. Emily did. She’ll be here the day after tomorrow.
***
Two days went by. I was already trying to get up. The pain in my legs was still bad, though, and my right arm was all torn up. There were at least ten wounds across my body. Two on my face; when it exploded I hit the gate, luckily I got my right arm up in time. I checked myself in the mirror. My face was still puffy.
Today the doctor who had spent five hours straight stitching me up in the operating room was supposed to do the rounds. I was even a bit nervous.
And then she walked in. Young, slender, wearing glasses, but they didn’t detract from her looks one bit, and the white coat really suited her. At twenty-seven I was already married. But we split after six months our personalities didn’t match, as the paperwork said, but really my ex-wife just didn’t like the pay of a rescue worker.
– Hello! the doctor said and walked over to my bed.
– Hello! Was it you who stitched me up?
– It was, – she smiled. Is something wrong?
– Let me examine you!
And she leaned over me In front of my eyes was a pendant with zodiac signs, hanging from her neck:
– Emily Thompson!!! I cried out.
She looked closely at my swollen face.
– I’m sorry! she said, without recognizing me.
– I’m a Taurus, – and I pointed to the pendant.
– Tom Wilson? her lips started to tremble. You remember me?
– Of course I do, Emily, – seeing the tears in the woman’s eyes, I placed my hand on hers.
– Sorry! she pulled out a tissue and dabbed her eyes. I never imagined we’d run into each other like this.
Emily didn’t come back to my room that day. But I had figured out her schedule was the same as mine: day shift, night shift, and two days off.
I didn’t want to seem helpless around her. All the next day I practiced walking around the room by leaning on the beds, and a couple times I even made it out to the hallway holding onto the wall.
Evening came. The daytime doctor left. The night shift arrived you could tell from the chatter in the hall. Rounds were coming up
Suddenly there were shouts and quick footsteps in the hallway. That happens when they bring in another injured person.
It was already ten o’clock. The nurse came in and turned off the light in the room. But I couldn’t sleep. Past midnight I heard footsteps in the hallway; they stopped, and in the quiet I sensed more than heard someone crying out there. I got up and quietly stepped into the hallway.
At the nurses’ station sat my old classmate, her head down on her hands, crying. I walked over and put my good hand on her shoulder:
– What’s the matter, Emily?
She stood up and buried her face against my shoulder:
– I operated on a woman who was hit by a car, – she started telling me, her voice choked with tears. I did everything I could and even what seemed impossible She’s in intensive care now, but she won’t make it. She has two kids her husband’s with her in the room right now
– Calm down, Emily!
– I’ve been a surgeon for three years and I still can’t get used to people dying.
– Calm down, calm down! That’s just how our jobs are. In five years I’ve seen plenty of deaths too, but we’ve saved a lot of lives as well, – I let out a heavy sigh. – That’s why my wife left me. She says I come home not myself and don’t make much money. But I always end up with forty enough to get by.
– Same for me, – she looked me in the eye. Guys think I’m weird. I’ve never been married and still live at home with my parents like I’m a child.
– Come on, we’re only twenty-seven we’ve got our whole lives ahead.
– No, Tom, we’re already twenty-seven.
– Dr. Emily, her pulse is fading, – a nurse yelled as she ran out.
– Excuse me! and Emily dashed off to intensive care.
I couldn’t sleep at all that night. In the morning the nurse came and gave me my usual shot.
– The woman you operated on last night, is she still alive? I asked, surprising even myself.
– Yes, but her condition is extremely critical.
***
Three weeks passed. The wounds on my body had closed up. We saw each other during her shifts, and I found myself more and more drawn to her. But the emergency surgery department wasn’t the spot for talking about anything really personal.
Then one morning during rounds the male doctor announced:
– Today I’m releasing you, – he smiled and added. From the hospital, that is. You’ll head straight to your local clinic, and they’ll figure out how much more time you’ll need on sick leave.
– I can pack up!
– Yes, yes! Take your time. They’ll have your discharge ready shortly.
After the doctor left, I shaved. Looking in the mirror, I was pleased to see that the two scars left didn’t ruin my face; if anything, they added a bit of manliness. The rest of the scars weren’t worth worrying about.
I got my things together and stepped into the hallway. Coming toward me, leaning on the wall, was a patient.
“She pulled through after all!” a happy thought crossed my mind.
The nurse came out and handed me the papers:
– Goodbye, Tom! Try not to end up back here!
***
I had my own one-bedroom apartment, but I headed to my parents’ place. Mom had been so worried and had even taken time off work.
– Son! she threw her arms around me.
– It’s okay, Mom! See, I’m alive and well.
– Come on, I made you something to eat. You’ve gotten so thin.
– Boy, have I missed home cooking!
– You can stay in your old room until you get better and get married. It’s still empty, – she called out like I was a kid. Go wash your hands!
***
By evening I had gone to the barber. I stopped by my apartment and grabbed some clothes. Mom got right to work straightening them out.
Dad came home from work in the evening. We all sat together like we used to and talked late into the night.
I went to bed in my old room where I’d spent my childhood and teenage years, but I didn’t fall asleep right away:
“Tomorrow I need to stop by the clinic. Then work. And in the evening”
With thoughts of the next evening, I finally drifted off well past midnight.
***
The next morning I went to the clinic. I spent the morning going from office to office. After lunch I headed to work for my shift.
– Where are you going? Dad asked.
– Dad, remember way back when I was in fourth grade. You made that pendant as a gift for my classmate?
– The not pretty Emily Thompson? I remember.
– Remember, you also said, “Grow up, maybe you’ll fall in love with her.”
– I remember that too.
– Dad, Emily’s a surgeon now. She operated on me. And she’s still wearing that pendant around her neck.
– Well, would you look at that!
– Dad, your words came true. I’m going to see her!
***
Twenty-seven years isn’t so much to start a life with a loved one.
