𝐷𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝐷𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑠 (LeAga)

𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚘 𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚘: 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜

ɪɴɪᴢɪᴏ ᴅᴇʟ ᴄᴀᴘɪᴛᴏʟᴏ

ꪶꫀꪖ

"Well here she is..." Alice says as I walk towards the patient's bed. She's still young and surely completely naive in every circumstances that she's facing and she would encounter. I flashed a smile at her, trying to give some light aura especially to her parents who looks unease. Being a doctor of Oncology is exciting and terrifying at the same time. Most of the times, I just wish to not be their Doctor. It's not that I don't want them to be my patients, but I don't want more people to feel the pain that they don't deserve.

"Hi" the little girl greets in an airy-way.

"Well, hello there, young lady. How are you feeling?"

"Not so good"

"This is Doctor Lea Salonga, she's the one I referred to you. She's one of the Senior Doctors here and of course, the best Oncologist in the Hospital." I forced a smile as I heard Alice's bonggang introduction. I didn't expect that, it made me bashful at some point.

"Hello, Doctor." The I-assume Father of the child offered a hand which I gladly accepted. "I'm Mr. Chua, Edison Chua, and this is my—" he sighs as he looks back, "M-my wife, Lumine."

"Pleasured to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Chua." I also offered a hand shake.

"I prefer to be called Ms. Lee" she says before accepting my hand.

Oh, great. This is quite awkward. I can see in my peripheral vision that the patient is just normally watching us, it's like she's already used to this kind of scenario...which is sad. Even if I don't completely know what's happening between the husband and the wife, I can still sense and it is very obvious that there's a bit weight in the aura.

I glanced at Mr. Chua who is now downcast, "Ms. Lee, I'm sorry."

Alice clears her throat to change the subject, "And this is Li Wei." She says referring to the patient.

"Hello, Li Wei. I hope we'll get along." I said sweetly, "I might be your Doctor now...hopefully not, but probably yes." I held her hand, that's why I was able to see her bruises. She has a lot, I am totally alarmed.

"Will you harm me, Doctor?" There was a bit pinch on my heart when I hear her interrogated me.

"No one would want to harm you, darling. And I promise to take care of you in the best way I could." I told her, almost whispering. Now, I gave my focus to the patient's parents, "I would like to talk to you in private, Ms. Lee and Mr. Chua."

Mr. Chua approaches his daughter and then he gave her a soft peck on her temple, "Wo huì huilai de. Daddy will be back, sweetie."

"Okay, Papa."

On cue, we head outside to be able to talk about Li Wei's condition. Seeing them talk earlier brings me pain within, it's like someone is torturing my heart in different ways. I have been always fragile with my patients, mainly on the younger and elder ones.

"What would happen, Doctor?" Mr. Chua asked right away, "Do we need some tests or anything? What's with the sudden meeting with an Oncologist?"

I heaved a heavy breath, trying my best to tell them calmly that their kid has a 95% chance of having cancer. As a Doctor, this is one of the most difficult things to do and I hate it every time that I have to do it. Telling the parents or the patients themselves that they need to do the treatment and it's the only best choice...is like telling them that they need to meet Satan and they will rot in hell—feeling.