Journey of a Trauma Surgeon: contos, #1

By jessica diogo

In the hushed stillness of a New Year's Night, amidst the usual chaos that fills the corridors of an ambulance station, an extraordinary tale unfolds. Picture it: the witching hour, when the world sleeps, and only the brave souls of the emergency crew keep vigil. Yet, this night was different. As the clock ticked towards a new dawn, a seasoned trauma surgeon named John found himself in the midst of a whirlwind of emotions. With memories of a distant past haunting his every thought, John's heart weighed heavy with melancholy. For fifteen long years, his existence had been solitary, save for the faithful company of his cat, Bonnie. But on this fateful night, fate intervened in the most unexpected of ways. As his colleagues gathered, sharing stories and brewing strong tea, John's mind wandered back to a pivotal moment in his life—a moment when love and duty collided with the force of a tempest. It was a night much like this one, years ago, when a woman from his past was brought into his care, her life hanging in the balance. With each passing moment, the memories flooded back with an intensity that took his breath away. The woman on the stretcher, her face familiar yet distant, stirred feelings long buried in the depths of his soul. It was Elizabeth, his lost love, her presence igniting a flame that had never truly died. As he tended to her injuries, John found himself transported back to a time of youthful dreams and promises made under the stars. Their love had been pure and unyielding, until the cruel hand of fate tore them apart. Now, fate had brought them together once more, albeit under vastly different circumstances. With a heavy heart, John knew he couldn't leave her side. Despite the obligations pulling him away—a mother's expectations, a fiancee's disappointment—he couldn't abandon Elizabeth in her time of need. And so, he made a choice that would change the course of his life forever. As he sat by her bedside, watching over her with a tenderness born of years past, John's mind raced with memories of their lost love. In the quiet of the night, surrounded by the steady hum of medical equipment, he found solace in the knowledge that he had done everything in his power to save her. But as the first light of dawn broke through the darkness, John knew that his journey was far from over. With Elizabeth still unconscious, her fate hanging in the balance, he made a silent vow to himself—to never again let go of the love that had defined his existence. For in that moment, amidst the chaos of a New Year's Night, John found redemption in the eyes of the woman he had loved and lost—a love that transcended time and space, binding them together in a bond that could never be broken. And as the world slept on, unaware of the drama unfolding in the quiet corners of the ambulance station, John knew that his heart had found its home once more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ricardo Almeida
• Release date: Apr 21, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223180272

jessica diogo

Ricardo Almeida is a writer and journalist, graduated in the Brazilian city of João Pessoa in 2007. He specializes in investigative journalism. In addition to his journalistic work, he is a speaker and writer. It shares its knowledge at conferences, workshops and publications, with the aim of disseminating information about society. Your commitment is to help others achieve a balanced and meaningful life.

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Table of Contents

Journey of a Trauma Surgeon

Journey of a Trauma Surgeon

Very rarely does fake-grand ambulance cruise a moment of unexpected calm between midnight

and three or four in the morning.

And when it does happen, cruise gather at the station, pull out a guitar from the locker,

brew strong tea.

Those who haven't gone to rest on the hard couch get comfortable with a hot drink in

hand.

My time about to tell you about was special, a New Year's Night.

Of course, the emergency crews were anticipating the upcoming weekend when they could sit at

the festive table and finally toast to the New Year.

Most doctors, paramedics, nurses and drivers were in high spirits, joking and smiling.

However, one of the doctors, an older trauma surgeon named John who was on duty that night,

was not in a festive mood.

Not because he had to greet the New Year away from home.

No, nothing at home had brought him joy for fifteen years.

No one was waiting for him except his cat, Bonnie.

The elderly, solitary doctor, felt melancholy because memories of a distant past.

A New Year's Night, just like this one, stirred his soul.

Now those memories stood so vividly in his mind that they took his breath away.

John, did anything interesting happen to you on New Years?

Ask the young nurse Barbara, pouring tea, it did.

Of course, one New Year's story, you could say, turned my whole life upside down.

Can you tell us, John hesitated?

In a person's life, there are moments when they stop being afraid and speak the truth

to themselves and others.

They stop being afraid to make decisions, to take decisive steps.

In those moments, people change their destiny, it happened so long ago.

Yet, it feels like it was just yesterday, but this story is very personal.

I don't know if you youngsters will find it interesting.

He tried to evade.

John, it will definitely be interesting.

Please, and the colleagues froze in anticipation.

The elderly doctor had no choice but to begin his story.

Well, then listen.

After graduating from medical school, I started working at the hospital and worked here for

the first eight years.

On that memorable day, right on New Years, I was on duty for the night shift, with only

a few minutes left until its end.

It was at that moment that a woman was brought in by ambulance.

Working the night shift on a holiday itself was no gift, and now there was an urgent operation.

Plus, at home, my mother and fiancé were waiting for me.

Truth be told, I had only known Susan, my so-called fiancé, for a few weeks.

However, my mother praised Susan persistently and advised me to marry her.

I was 30 at the time and considered a confirmed bachelor, and my mother really wanted grandchildren.

But that night dashed all her plans.

And not only hers, John, go to the women's locker room.

They brought in a patient.

Car accident.

The voice of the recorder rang out with thousands of bells when I went down to the emergency

room.

But I hurried to the locker room.

On the stretch of lay a young woman, she was unconscious, with a bandage on her head.

Her left arm was tightly secured in a wire split from shoulder to wrist.

Back to the woman were short-baged jacket with dark browned ride stains at a purse.

Pulse 60.

Blood pressure 110 over 80.

The paramedic murmured.

And for a few seconds, I couldn't take my eyes of the patient.

Her chest seemed tightened with wide straps.

I recognized her.

It was her, my Elizabeth.

I even caught a faint scent of the same perfume she used to wear.

And my heart squeezed.

We parted ten years ago.

But no other girl had touched me so deeply.

I hadn't even thought that we would ever meet again.

And here fate.

The villain brought us together now as a patient and a doctor, giving instructions to the nurses.

I called my mother.

I had to apologize and warn them not to wait for me at the New Year's celebration.

Of course, both my mother and Susan were openly unhappy.

But there was no choice.

There was no one to replace me that night.

The operation lasted about three hours.

The fracture turned out to be complicated.

Naturally, I completely forgot about New Year, my mother, and even Susan.

Bright memories flashed in my mind.

I looked again at Elizabeth's face.

Saw her lips, beautiful eyes shimmering with silver moisture.

I felt the intoxicating scent of her hair knew that I still loved her.

My feelings hadn't faded in my soul.

I still loved Elizabeth.

My beautiful.

My only Elizabeth.

Close and so far away.

After the operation, I sat in the residence room, looked out the window at the softly

falling snow, and rejoiced that fate brought me back to Elizabeth, even if only in this

way.

But I was still glad that I did everything I could for her.

I understood that I was eagerly awaited at home.

My mother, imposed by my mother, Susan, my fiancé.

But could I get up and leave, abandoning her, Elizabeth?

At that time, I lived alone.

As soon as my mother retired, she immediately went to her native village.

She came to the city on the eve of the New Year only because she wanted to celebrate

the holiday with me and, as I already mentioned, facilitate my marriage.

While at work, I picked up the phone and dialed my apartment's number.

My mother's voice carried resentment.

Honestly, John, I don't want to talk to you.

Tell me, please, why did I come?

Okay,