The tragedy of Will Solace

The healer order

At the end of July, after weeks of training, Mateo and Hannah prepared a surprise for him.

That day, Mateo had actually sent him to the music room with Michelle, telling him that, with no special activities, it was probably going to be a slow day. Still, Will sensed that he was hiding something (his huge smile gave him away). Michelle was no better, but she still didn't say anything.

Shortly before dinner, Hannah arrived to pick him up.

- Hey, we have a surprise for you! Can you skip dinner and go with us to the infirmary?

Will followed, filled with curiosity and excitement.

The curtains were down and the lights were off, but Mateo was holding a flashlight to his face, trying to look scary.

- William Andrew Solace! This is the day you oficially become... one of us, a member of the healers' order.

Hannah couldn't avoid laughing.

- Well, at least it sounds less dumb now that there are three of us!

Mateo ignored her.

- Come, young student, and read these lines. - he handed Will a piece of paper and illuminated it with the flashlight. He had made sure to put big letters and spaces so that Will could read it.

I swear by Apollo Healer, by Asc... Ascle... Asclepius, by Hygi... Hyga... Hygieia, by Pan... Pa-na-cea, and by all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will carry out, recording... no, according to my ability and judgment, this oath and this indeni... indenture.

I will respect the hard-won science... scien-ti-fic gains of those phy.. phy-si-cians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures that are required, avoiding those twin traps of over... o-ver-treat-ment and thera... therapy... thera-peutic ni-hi-lism.

I will remember that there is an art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and under-stan-ding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.

I will not be ashes... ashamed to say "I know not", nor will I fail to call in my co... colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's re-co-ve-ry.

I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not dis... dis-closed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given to me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsable.. responsibility must be faced with great humble... humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at gods.

I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancer... can-ce-rous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and e-co-no-mic stability. My responsable... ugh! res-pon-si-bi-li-ty includes these related problems if I am to care ad... a-de-quately for the sick.

I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prev... prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of social... so-cie-ty, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

If I do not vio-late this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and re-mem-bered with affection there... there... thereafter. May I always act so as to pre-serve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long exp... experience the joy of healing those who seek my help; but if I break it and for? force? fors-wear myself, may the opposite befall me.

Despite how difficult it was to read that text, no one interrupted him.

- And that - said Mateo - is the Hippocratic Oath. Well, a mix, of the original oath, and the modern version by Louis Lasagna, and no, we do not make fun of their names. You are officially a healer, Will.

Will could just go and offer Mateo a big hug. He gladly accepted, and added: 

- You too Hannah! - The girl complied, and joined the hug.

But the surprises were not over.

- We know we made you skip dinner - Hannah said - but you didn't believe we would let you go hungry?

They led him to the on-call room. They had installed a small TV, with a VHS player. There was also a popcorn mix and pizza.

- This is my special popcorn mix: it includes salted popcorn, Twizzlers, and pieces of Kit Kat.

- For dinner? Is that allowed? And pizza? How did you get that?!

- Hey - smiled Mateo - First of all, it's a special occasion. I usually don't condone all this sugar and fat for dinner, but we are going to celebrate! As for your second question: you are not the only one with friends in Cabin 11. Are you ready?

- Yes!

That was one of the best nights of Will's life. As they watched the opening of "A New Hope", he realized that he had found a family, and now, he was officially a healer.