Before you start to read the chapter I want to say that me and my cousin decided to change the story of this book. Of course it would be Obssesion, Psycho things, but different from what it said at the Prolugue.
Thank u, and have fun reading this :)
One year ago
Jennie P.O.V
''We would like to thank all passengers on board this flight, take care when departing and have a wonderful time here in Korea .''
The flight attendants thank us as we leave the plane, security nodding and handing us back our passports, waiting for our luggage for nearly an hour at Incheon International.
Why does it take so fucking long?
This trip has been planed for the past year, many meetings and business plans to get to this moment.
After failure in Germany, Ireland , and finally, at home in New Zeland, this is our last rescort.
Myself and two other specialists have a mission to find, study, diagnose and treat a genetic discorder, so rare that all testing has come up empty.
Leo has been with us for four years. An eight-year-old, wheelchair-bound, showing signs of muscular dystrophy but all blood tests, biopsies, and nerve testing show inconclusive to this diagnosis, or any other for that matter.
We found a specialist here in Korea who wanted to discuss a certain treatment plan, but we needed to investigate it first to ensure that is won't decrease Leo's quality of life.
So here we are
''Irene.'' My colleague and also best friend Rosé nudges my shoulder. ''We need to be at the hospital in two hours, we don't have time to go the hotel first.''
We stop at the hire-a-car, pay for six weeks on a jeep, big enough to fit all our boxes of paperwork and equipment into.
I hande her the keys. ''We can settle in after the meeting, Leo Dermot will be landing with his family in a few days, so it will be a good idea to get ahead.''
Nodding, she glances over her shoulder. ''And here he is... eventually.''
''Took your time.'' I say to Doctor Shique approaching us, earning me a roll of the eyes from him.
Doctor Shique is an older specialist, vast knowledge in medicine, and a moody prick most of the time.
Rosé and I studied together, and luckily had placement together at the Queen Elizabeth hospital, landing jobs in Yorkhill.
That was nearly five years ago, and we even live together after both suffering heartbreak by our cheating boyfriends, mutually agreeing to the single life forever
We drive to Nemours children Hospital, parking up at the staff bay, and making our way to the first initial meeting.
The meeting room is bright, windows lining the wall. We sit at a large desk wooden oval table, paperwork covering nearly every inch, assistants, nurses, doctors, and specialists filling each chair while waiting for the main doctor of this hospital to fill the chair at the end.
''Did you bring all of the...'' Rosé stops her words as soon as the door opens, silence filling the room.
''Thank you for coming today, this is quite a peculiar case that we've been looking into for some time, I believe each of you has statements to make over the next few days before the arrival of Miss Dermot and her family. I have allowed two assistants to join who will be helping too. '' He points to two young women across from us, both burying their heads in their notes. "I've placed a copy of the treatment plan, costs, side notes, and a section for your notes. And Doctor Jennie " His eyes find mine over his glasses. "As you are the one who set this up, I'd like to speak with you, tomorrow at noon."
Nodding, my heart starts to race, all eyes on me. I
have no idea why I feel like I'm about to explode
with anxiety, but the feeling is twisting my insides.
Maybe because this is her last chance?
I'm not some robot, I care a lot about all my
patients, probably more than I should, taking each
one personally.
I've done my own research for Leo, spoken with his
family numerous times to help them find
equipment at home, travelling, anything to help
him.
I overstepped once and appeared at his door with
flowers and a present for his sixth birthday. He
smiled the whole time and cried when I left. He
always gets excited when we meet up, the smile
alone is enough for me to continue fighting for him.
I have never wanted kids, nor did I see myself
being so attached to them. There is a feeling that
overwhelms me when I hear my research and
treatment works, that I'm successfully helping
these young ones have a life.
There are bad days too, those are the ones that
drive me to a dozen wine bottles in my bin while I
lie in a bath, listening to soft music while Rosé
yaps on the toilet seat for hours.
I don't just treat children, I studied genetics and it
covers adults, too. But most adults with genetic
disorders have already been diagnosed and going
through treatment, therapy, etc. So, my workload is
usually full of children, and it can be haunting at
times.
When the meeting finishes up, I feel that horrid
little lump in my throat, the one that chokes me
every time I feel a little bit of hope dropping. No
one seems to believe that what he has is treatable,
diagnosable.
I will do everything I possibly can to ensure he
gets answers, his family, friends, everyone. I won't
stop until I know I've done everything humanly possible.
"I'll get you at the car, I need to quickly speak to the
physio," I tell Rosé, waiting for them to leave.
I discuss her muscle weakness with the young lady,
reaching an agreement that she'll take an extra look
at her charts, and of course, Leo.
I'm the last to leave the office, throwing my bag
over my shoulder and tucking my hair strands
behind my ear.
Lifting the box of paperwork, I make my way out,
turning left and hitting my foot on something,
someone, sitting down with his legs spread out,
reading the paperwork from the meeting.
"Jesus," I groan as I land face-first on the marble
flooring, paperwork scattering everywhere.
"I'm sorry," she says, quickly standing and holding
her hand out for me to grab, flipping her badge
away from my face that's dangling from her
lanyard. "Here, let me help you."
Intense shocks run up my wrist as I take her hand,
still not looking up while I get to my knees and try
to stack it all back up, seeing her in my peripheral
on her knees too, gathering the papers and putting
them in the cardboard box.
I'm too tired for this shit.
"You should really sit at the seats; I could have
been a patient.''
Squatting, she leans her elbows on her knees, white
sleeves rolled up. "Sorry," she repeats, handing me
my phone that I also dropped. "Ah, you're the
doctor from New Zeland, right? It's great what you set up here, usually they don't take a case that's so rare.''
The air nearly leaves my lungs as I look at her,her
smile being the first thing I notice, penetratingly vibrant brown eyes, long lashes to match her blonde hair and brows.
Her shirt pulls taut along her chest as she straightens up, offering me her hand once again to help me stand, and I realise I'm gawking. "Um. Yeah,
that's me." I laugh, looking down at my heels
nervously and back up to meet her curious gaze.
"You're the genetics assistant, right?"
She nods, smiling again."I am yes, but you can call
me Lisa."
