The medical lie

Chapter 1

" Doctor", the patient said, " Doctor, are you there".

"Yes, I am here," the doctor replied, a little too eager for his own liking. His hands were steady as he ran a hand across her back, over and over again. The skin was warm from blood loss and her fever was rising quickly. She was getting sick fast. The doctor didn't like it one bit.

He'd been trying so hard to make this woman comfortable and she just kept on coughing and wheezing, not enough air in her lungs to get her through the worst.

"Shh,shh"... He cooed. " I know it hurts, but you're going to be alright. Just hold on, you'll be alright. It's all alright".

She coughed and tried to push herself up into a sitting position, wincing when the movement jostled her broken ribs."

" Doctor, please tell me I'm dying. That I can rest now."

He sighed, leaning against the wall as he watched her struggle with her own body. This wasn't fair; how could something like him even exist? And why did his life have to revolve around saving people who never asked for help or needed any at all?

" No,no,no" he murmered, moving around to take her hand. Her fingers were cold.

"Are you a doctor? Is that why you keep saying that?" She gave him an exhausted look. " Is that your job? Saving lives?"

" Well... sort of. I do a lot more than just save them. I heal them." He squeezed her hand lightly."

" So, you're a miracle worker?" she asked, half laughing, half coughing.

" Something like that, I'm going to help you. You don't need to worry about anything anymore", the doctor said firmly, squeezing her hand. " You just hang on." He promised, giving her hand another gentle squeeze. A wave of relief washed over him, replacing the fear and sadness that had been filling him.

He couldn't save everyone, even if they were desperate enough for death. What would his next patients say when they died? Who had he saved only to find out afterwards that they were already gone?

" Don't leave. Please, I want to see my family."

And then she was gone....