AUTHOR'S POV
Diana woke up with a smile, feeling the bed with her hand for Scott. He left already but the scent of peppermint and tobacco remained on her bed. Lifting her hand up, she stared at the moon phase watch on her wrist. She never removed it ever since Scott put it on her last night. "I'm whipped", she uttered.
Diana stared at the empty glass on her side table. Her heart suddenly wailed in sadness from a single thought that her mother is getting more suspicious day by day. Her mother personally delivers a glass of milk every night. She said it helps her sleep, and it's good for nourishment... which Diana totally agreed with. There were no reek that comes out from every drink she take. No suspicions on the act of kindness her mother shows. Looking back on how perturbed Scott was after sniffing on her milk, Diana couldn't be more fretful inside their home with her mother around.
Again, she thought of Scott that if not for him, she wouldn't discover another loophole in her despairing existence. Diana, hurriedly get up, placed her watch on her dresser, worried that it might get wet in the bath. Immediately, she prepared herself to get ready for work. Wearing a white suit, Diana drove to the hospital with her black hair tied in a pony tail ready to battle another day.
She glanced at her watch. Again and again, she thought of no one but Scott. She pursed her lips and shook her head to remove him off her mind. 'What kind of love spell is this?', she sighed.
By the time Diana stepped on the hospital grounds, she can't help but notice a few staff staring at her again. She even heard them gossiping over something mentioning her name. Diana just shrugged it off for this isn't the first time she get such negative attention from the other hospital staff. When she reached her office, she noticed Kate with scratches on her face.
"What happened?!", Diana worriedly held Kate's face as she check on her scratches.
"People here are buzzing about you being the newest board member.", Kate held Diana's hand and smiled.
"So that issue haven't died yet?", Diana clicked her tongue and took her handkerchief out to wipe Kate's face.
"I even beat a resident in the pantry this morning. Ugh! They just keep on talking!", Kate looked at the small pocket mirror and rolled her eyes.
"Just let them Kate, I'll handle it. The next time you hear them gossiping, just let it go", Diana tapped Kate's nose with her finger, as she enter her office. Kate followed after some time.
"So, how was your night with Dylan?", Diana asked as she rest her bag on her swivel chair.
"Don't ask.", Kate made a coffee for her and a tea for Diana, as she place them on Diana's table. Diana didn't say a thing, instead, she just lifted her brows, and tapped on the surface of the table with her fingers waiting for Kate to expose the complication."He have a girlfriend.", Kate revealed.
"Uh-oh…", Diana took a paper out of her drawer as she whistled in a low tone. Kate have always crossed paths with either gay men, or womanizers that she never found the man of her dreams.
"I know… I don't even want to talk about it. Anyway, how about hot Scott?",Kate sucked her teeth and squinted at Diana. Noticing the watch on her wrist, she squealed in excitement with her hands covering her mouth. "OH MY GOODNESS!! Is that from him?", she shouted.
"Stop it. ", Diana tried to conceal her happiness as she bit her lower lip. She stood up, taking the piece of paper from her drawer and walked out of her office.
"Come on!! Where are you going?", Kate asked, as she watch Diana walk to the door.
"To Dr. Blackwell's office", Diana winked at her best friend. "Talk later". Diana headed to Dr. Blackwell's office keeping her head up. She didn't mind the people who kept their piercing eyes on her. She knocked on the door twice before she opened it. "Dr. Blackwell", Diana entered.
"Diana, I've been waiting for you all week.", Dr Blackwell turned around as he grab a book from the shelf.
"Still I won't tell.", she said. Dr. Blackwell has been wanting to find out how Diana got her bruises. And yet, Diana kept mum about it as she handed the paper she brought along.
"What is this? No no no no no", Dr. Blackwell shook his head as he sat on his chair.
"I would like to resign as a board member of this hospital, effective today", Diana sat on a chair crossing her legs. She thought that the people around her won't stop until she step down. Besides, she didn't want to take hold of such high position in the first place.
"Definitely not, Diana", Dr. Blackwell placed the paper on his desk and slid it towards Diana.
"The money invested here is not my personal money. I don't deserve to be in that position. I resign.", Diana have decided and will not back down.
"But technically, you do. You're a Woodsworth.", he said.
"Dr. Blackwell, please don't make it hard for me. I only have my dignity left", she beseeched her mentor to grant her request. Diana thought about this thoroughly, and the resignation is the best option for her. She wants to gain respect, because she earned it.
With a deep sigh, Dr. Blackwell gave up and said, "Alright, I will think it through. I'll keep this in case you change your mind."
"I will consider that done. Don't let my mother know.", Diana understands that if her mother will know her situation in the hospital, she will fire the people who gossips about her. For now, she just wanted to stay low, and keep her head down.
Their conversation was interrupted with a hard and quick knock on the door. "Excuse me, Dr. Blackwell.. Dr. Woodsworth, you have a patient in room 1108", the nurse said with anxiety written all over her face.
"1108? Is it a new patient?", Diana turned to her while still sitting on the chair.
"Yes Doctor. And it's urgent.", the nurse nodded to Diana.
"Go ahead, Diana", Dr. Blackwell waved his hand on Diana signaling to go.
Diana, together with the nurse, hurriedly went up to Room 1108. Arriving at the ward, Diana fixed her coat as she head on to the patient's room."Patient's chart please", the nurse handed the chart to Diana as they enter.
"The patient's name is Le.." the nurse was introducing the patient when she was interrupted by Diana.
"It's Dr. Murphy! Are you sure I am the doctor of choice for this patient?", Diana saw Dr. Murphy unconscious on the hospital bed with so many contraptions.
"Doctor, according to the medical directives of Dr. Murphy, you are one of the doctors he preferred to attend to him in case of medical emergencies, especially surgeries", the nurse said.
"What happened?", Diana approached Dr. Murphy checking his monitors.
"He fell off the stairs this morning and broke his leg. Interns found him. A few minutes after, he had a cardiac arrest", the nurse explained.
"Has he been cleared by the neuro? ", Diana opened Dr. Murphy's eyes and lighted it.
"Yes doctor. The cardio has already been consulted, surgery was advised. We're just waiting for you to get on board.", the nurse stood there waiting for Diana's reply.
"Alright then. I'll get the OR ready. Prep the patient.", Diana stared at Dr. Murphy wondering why is she in his medical directives.
DURING OPERATION
"I can't see the clot", Dr. Miller, the cardio said.
"The films said it's there." Diana answered calmly as she search for every corner where the clot could be.
"I'm going to close now, we're wasting time", the cardio exhaled sharply losing his patience.
"Wait for a while doctor. Patience is a virtue", Diana fervently checked for clots. "It's in there".
"We're losing the patient", the anesthesiologist declared as Dr. Murphy's vital signs started to deteriorate.
"Dr Woodsworth, stop you can't do that ", Dr. Miller shouted like a thunderclap. But, it didn't stopped Diana.
"One more second. You know we have to take it out.", Diana stayed calm as she seemed to have found the clot, and is trying to get a hold of it.
"Dr. Woodsworth!", Dr. Miller thought it's difficult to get the clot, and just wanted to end the surgery, as he get annoyed in Diana's persistence. "We are just putting the patient in more danger".
"The vitals are going down, Doctors", the anesthesiologist continued to warn.
"This will be quick….. ", Diana dig deeper, not wanting to give up.
"DOCTOR WOODSWORTH", Dr. Miller screamed, as the beepers of the machines go wild. The suctions gurgled and rattled as the operation gets more intense. The nurses were distraught as they stand aside while the two doctors argue.
"Okay got it", Diana pulled the large clot with her hands and gave it to the nurse. She then went back in to check if she missed anything.
"Doctor!", Dr. Miller clenched his jaw in anger.
The patient then went on flat line. The loud continuous beep alarmed the medical team to stand on their toes. The anesthesiologist gave proper medications to keep the patient alive. The doctors controlled the bleeding as Diana revived the patient massaging his heart. " Come on.. Come on", Diana prayed in her head for Dr. Murphy not to come to the light. She went on until it started beating again.
"We got a heartbeat.... Patient is stabilizing.", the anesthesiologist gave a long sigh as soon as Dr. Murphy was revived. "Welcome back, Dr. Murphy."
Everybody clapped at the victory of the unsung heroes. Diana just went on checking for more bleeding until she waited for Dr. Miller to stitch up. She glanced at the cardio and thought, these are the types of doctors Scott surely hates. "Well done. Let's wrap it up, Dr. Woodsworth", Dr. Miller ordered.